Participation and Perceptions of Citizens about Thuggery and Electoral Violence Management during 2023 General Elections in Lagos State

Emma Jimo Emmajimo (), Taiwo Tiwalade Kareem () and Nasir Ado ()
Additional contact information
Emma Jimo Emmajimo: Department of Politics and International Relations, Postal: Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria ,, https://www.lcu.edu.ng/index.php/lead-city-journal-of-the-social-sciences
Taiwo Tiwalade Kareem: Department of Politics & International Relations, Postal: Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria ,, https://www.lcu.edu.ng/index.php/lead-city-journal-of-the-social-sciences
Nasir Ado: https://www.lcu.edu.ng/index.php/lead-city-journal-of-the-social-sciences

Lead City Journal of the Social Sciences (LCJSS), 2025, vol. 10, issue 1, 53-67

Abstract: Sociopolitical conflict, thuggery and electoral violence are prevalent challenges in many developing countries, in Nigeria particularly. These are often attributed to sociopolitical factors such as marginalization, poverty, and other excruciating human conditions. This paper examines gender participation, citizen involvement, and perceptions regarding the eradication of electoral violence and thuggery, with a specific focus on Lagos State. The research adopts World Systems Theory and Social Conflict Theory particularly to elucidate the discourse. For the purpose of this study a minimum percentage of 0.0035 of the total registered voters in Lagos state (7,060,195) were sampled randomly by means of online form, amounting to approximately two hundred and forty-eight (248) completed questionnaire. Findings show that at least two in every three respondents of legal voting age in Lagos State have firsthand experience of electoral violence and thuggery. This supports assertions that violence surrounding elections is a norm in the polity, though more prevalent in the pre-election period, with 73.30% affirming, compared to a meagre 5.80% post-election. Further, results indicate a whopping 96% agree that the male gender participates more in electoral violence and thuggery, and so equally more likely perpetrator of violence. Majority (77.40%) agree that electoral violence and thuggery can be totally eradicated in the country, while only 22.60% of respondents agree otherwise to total eradication of violence and thuggery. The study recommends electoral schooling for male citizens, improved security to curb victimization, embarking on implementation of poverty reduction policies, and promote political inclusion first to mitigate, and possibly eradicate the socio-political vices.

Keywords: Socio-political; Conflict; Thuggery; Violence; 2023 Nigerian General Elections (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.lcu.edu.ng/index.php/lead-city-journal-of-the-social-sciences Full text (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ris:lcjsss:0055

Access Statistics for this article

Lead City Journal of the Social Sciences (LCJSS) is currently edited by Omolara Campbell

More articles in Lead City Journal of the Social Sciences (LCJSS) from Lead City University
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Daniel Akanbi ().