IMPLICATIONS OF MILITARIZING ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA: THE EKITI AND OSUN STATE

Abstract

One major issue emerging from the governorship elections conducted in Ekiti and Osun States of Nigeria is the presence of heavy security forces during their conduct. Platoons of security operatives, including military officers, were drafted to lock down the states shortly before, during and immediately after the elections with immediate consequences on peoples’ rights and freedom. Members of the opposition were specifically targeted. The pertinent questions to ask then is: What accounts for this? What are the implications of electoral governance in Nigeria? This study seeks to interrogate the foregoing questions. The data for this study will be generated from Focus Group Discussion, interviews, questionnaires and documentary sources. Tables and the technique of content analysis will constitute our data analysis technique