POLITICAL APATHY IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA STATE (2019– 2023)

AMAH, BEATRICE CHINEDU (2026) POLITICAL APATHY IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA STATE (2019– 2023). Other thesis, GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY, ENUGU.

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Abstract

This study examines political apathy in Nigeria using Kaduna State as a case study, with particular reference to the 2019 and 2023 general elections. It investigates how insecurity, violence, and distrust in government and political institutions influence voter turnout and broader political participation. The study is motivated by the persistent decline in civic engagement and electoral participation in Kaduna State despite its political significance in Nigeria’s democratic system. The research adopts a qualitative approach, relying on secondary data sourced from Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reports, Afrobarometer surveys, Yiaga Africa reports, academic journals, and policy documents. The study is guided by Rational Choice Theory, which explains political participation as a cost–benefit decision influenced by perceived risks and rewards. The findings reveal a significant decline in voter turnout from 52.7% in 2019 to 34.2% in 2023, alongside increasing levels of political disengagement among citizens and youths. The study further establishes that insecurity, including banditry, kidnapping, and electoral violence, significantly discourages political participation by increasing the perceived risks of voting. In addition, widespread distrust in government institutions, driven by perceived corruption, poor governance, and lack of accountability, reduces citizens’ confidence in the electoral process and lowers motivation to participate in elections. These combined factors contribute substantially to the rise in political apathy within the state. The study concludes that political apathy in Kaduna State is largely a product of insecurity and institutional distrust, both of which weaken democratic participation and legitimacy. It recommends strengthened electoral security, improved governance transparency, anti-corruption measures, and sustained civic education to rebuild public trust and encourage greater political participation. Keywords: Political apathy, insecurity, voter turnout,, electoral participation, Kaduna State.

Item Type: Thesis (Other)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Management and Social Sciences
Depositing User: CHIBUEZE EZE
Date Deposited: 27 Jul 2026 12:04
Last Modified: 27 Jul 2026 12:04
URI: http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/6036

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