Political Accountability and Voter Turnout in Nigeria

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2018 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Africa, University of Port Harcourt, course: Political Science, language: English, abstract: This study examined the impact of political accountability on voter turnout in Nigeria's elections (1999 - 2015). The objectives were to examine the impact of lack of political accountability on voter turnout and how voters could hold their representatives accountable to increase voter turnout in Nigeria's elections. This work was anchored on two theories: the 'Rational Choice Theory' and the 'Civic Duty Theory' of Voter Turnout. The former stressed that voters vote to maximize benefits, while the latter considered fulfilment of civic duty as the major consideration for voting. This research made use of descriptive research design and survey method. The data employed for the study were gathered from both primary (questionnaire) and secondary (books, journals etc) sources. Both content and statistical (tables, charts, percentages) analytical techniques were used in the interpretation and analysis of data. A purposive (judgmental) sampling method was adopted in this research. A sampling size of 1,200 respondents, 200 from each of the states across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria was used for study. INEC and FES (2011) provided the nationally representative sampling method adopted in this research.The findings were that lack of political accountability exacerbated low voter turnout. It also bred corruption, insecurity, violence and opaque governance system which diminished voters' interest in elections. It also observed that the average percentage of voter turnout in the elections conducted in Nigeria from 1999 to 2015 was 48%. In relation to the eligible voters, it was 36% in the same period. This work concluded that there is the need for the accountability of political and public officeholders in Nigeria to improve voter turnout in elections. It recommended political accountability of political officeholders and electronic voting system to ensure increase in voter turnout in elections in Nigeria.

I am Ebenezer Leo the Great Ph.D. I hail from Ula-upata town Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. I hold a Ph.D in Political Science from the University of Port-Harcourt in Rivers State, specialsing in Comparative/ Nigerian Government and Politics. Currently, I am a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Federal College of Education Technical Omoku Rivers state Nigeria. I teach Political Economy, Political Research Methods, Comparative Government and Politics, Constitutional Development in West Africa, Social Sciences, Issues in Peace and Conflict Resolution studies, Local Government Administration etc. to undergraduate students. I am into full time teaching, research and mentorship. I have published over ten journal articles in local journals (hard copies) and contributed chapter papers in books. I have written three books too. My Ph.D research was on "Political Accountability and Voter Turnout in Nigeria's Elections (1999-2015)". I am currently seeking funding to update the research from 2019 to 2023 elections in Nigeria. My two other ongoing research endeavours will also be published internationally. I fund all my researches, conferences and professional bodies' registrations personally. But I am determined as a young scholar to excel if given the opportunity to prove myself and help address socio-economic and political issues academically. Presently, I am a member of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA); Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) and Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). I have spent the past ten years in the university system in administration, teaching, research, project supervision, mentorship and general support services. I love education especially quality and sustainable education in the school system for societal socio-economic and political development. Presently, I am the Project Coordinator of the Global Coalition Against Examination Malpractice in Africa (GCAEMA) project aimed at revamping the reading culture, curbing examination malpractice and promoting quality education in the school system in Nigeria and Africa.