POLITICAL POWER ALTERNATION AND ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN POST COLONIAL AFRICA: EXPERIENCES IN NIGERIA AND KENYA, 1999 - 2016

Mbaeze, Netchy and Okoli, Rowland Chukwuma and Okonkwo, Willy (2017) POLITICAL POWER ALTERNATION AND ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN POST COLONIAL AFRICA: EXPERIENCES IN NIGERIA AND KENYA, 1999 - 2016. Socialscientia Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities, 2 (3). pp. 18-32.

[img] Text
Pol power alternation (published).pdf

Download (409kB)

Abstract

This study examines whether alternation in power has minimized the incidence of electoral violence in selected post-colonial African states. The study is anchored on the theory of Post-Colonial State. It adopted documentary method of data collection and content analysis of data. Based on evidence from Nigeria and Kenya which formed our case studies, we demonstrated that in post-colonial African states, where the political power alternation is achieved via rainbow coalition of opposition political parties, the emergent regime is bound to be consumed with the quest to consolidate their hold on state power and to annihilate the opposition. This will ignite vicious circle of battle for state power at all cost thereby escalating electoral violence in the polity. The study avers that focusing on democratic consolidation through strengthening the electoral institutions by the incumbent would mitigate the incidence of electoral violence and ipso facto stabilize the polity in post-colonial African states.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Depositing User: mrs chioma hannah
Date Deposited: 30 Apr 2019 08:50
Last Modified: 30 Apr 2019 08:50
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/1395

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item