ELECTORAL SECURITY CHALLENGES AND VOTER’S PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA GENERAL ELECTION (2007, 2011 AND 2015), CROSS RIVER STATE

Abstract

The study examined security challenges and electoral malpractices in Nigeria between 2007, 2011 and 2015 general election. The study aimed to ascertain the effect of security deployment on electoral malpractice in Cross River State, and to examine the relationship between election security training and electoral malpractice in Cross River State. The study adopted non-experimental research design using the structure of ex-post factor design. Questionnaires were used for data collection. Regression and Pearson correlation techniques were employed for data analysis and hypothesis testing. Results of the study revealed deployment of security impacts significantly on electoral malpractice at p<0.05, while election security training has significant relationship with election malpractices. Conclusively, the findings of the study therefore revealed that elections malpractices recorded elections in the period between 2007 to 2015 in Cross River State were characterized solely due to insufficient security personnel, inadequate training of security personnel before, during and after elections, as well as poor and unsophisticated security gadgets, which if considered and address, will improve our electoral processes and gives confidence to the public. The study recommended amongst others adequate and proper training, and retraining of security personnel before, during and after election should be ensured to equip them with the right and necessary skills needed to handle violent election and political atmosphere for a credible process in the state, deployment of regular security personnel, and at the appropriate time should be ensured by security authorities before, during and after elections to provide enough coverage for a peaceful conduct of elections, and proper, sophisticated and functional security gadgets such as smart card reader, electronic voting machines/devices should be used across voting units and collation centers to monitor electoral processes and ensure election results are credible.