Political and economic effects of post-election violence on national development

Abstract

One of the most recurring decimal in Africa is electoral violence mostly in the last three decades and it has turned to political nightmares in the midst of other related violence that have both political and economic implications on national development within the continent. Election is a cardinal stance within which political offices are held in democratic settings. Therefore, election is an attribute of democracy all over the world. However, the winner-takes-it-all that is attached to liberal democracy has made it peculiar that politicians tend to use all the powers within their means; be it money, power, intelligence and craftiness to ensure elections are won in their favour. The build-up, magnitude, and nature of electoral violence depend on a number of factors. These include the democratic integrity of the political parties; that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the methods of siting polling units; and the distribution of voting materials (among others) This study examines the causes of post-election violence, its implications on both political and economic spheres and also proffers solution to the problems vis-a-vis national development. In line with this goal, documentary research methods were adopted. It was found that: (i) weak electoral laws, (ii) poverty, (iii) unemployment, (iv) hate speech (via social and media), and (v) lack of effective collaboration by security agencies leads to post-election violence. The study therefore recommends that: (i) a robust and strong inter-agency collaboration by the INEC to conduct hitch free election; and (ii) a weak law enforcement structure has been the reason for electoral violence.

Keywords: Democracy, election, electoral violence, post-election.