ELECTORAL MALFEASANCE AND LOW TURNOUT IN NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC PROCESS (1999-2023)
Abstract
This study investigates the link between electoral malfeasance and declining voter turnout in Nigeria’s democratic process from 1999 to 2023. It examines how persistent irregularities—such as vote buying, violence, intimidation, logistical failures, ballot manipulation, and the misuse of state institutions—shape voter behaviour and weaken trust in elections. Anchored on the Rational Choice Theory, the study explains how citizens weigh the costs and benefits of participation and increasingly choose abstention when electoral outcomes appear predetermined or compromised. Using a descriptive research design and secondary data sourced from scholarly works, reports, and official publications, the study finds that electoral malfeasance not only depresses voter turnout but also erodes electoral integrity, undermines leadership legitimacy, and destabilizes democratic consolidation. The work recommends strengthening technology-driven electoral processes, reducing money politics, improving institutional independence, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard electoral credibility and restore citizens’ confidence in Nigeria’s democratic system.
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