The Security Implications of Political Disputes in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria’s electoral processes have often been weakened by political disputes. Over time, some politicians in Nigeria have played a leading role in driving disputes through provocative statements, the use of hired thugs, and manipulation of internal party mechanisms. Likewise, the lack of genuine democratic accountability and weak internal regulation within parties has encouraged political leaders to engage in harmful practices that threaten both the fairness of elections and the stability of the nation. This has resulted in repeated episodes of violence before, during, and after elections, thereby posing a consistent danger to Nigeria’s national security. These realities motivated this research titled “The Security Implications of Political Disputes in Nigeria”, which set out to examine how political disputes impact on Nigeria’s security. The study both qualitative and quantitative data. Sampling methods included purposive and simple random techniques, while information was gathered from both primary and secondary sources. The Frustration-Aggression Theory served as the theoretical lens to explain the relationship between political dispute and Nigeria’s security. Key implications identified in relation to political dispute and security included attack on institutions of government, public endangerment, financial precarity and disintegration.