The Impact of Voters’ Turnout in Conducting Free and Fair Election (A case study of 2019 AMAC Election)

Abstract

Over the years, Nigeria's electoral process was bedevilled by several untoward tendencies which range from massive frauds, rigging, intimidation of both opponents and potential voters, state interference, lack of ideological conviction of the ruling class, lack of continuity, violence, etc. It is against this setting that this study looked into the impact of voters’ participation and taking into cognizance AMAC 2019 election. The Study ascertained the effect of voters’ apathy on voter turnout during 2019 Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Elections, assess the implications of low voters’ turnout on the conduct of free and fair election, examine the impact of Intra and Inter- Party politics on voters’ turnout. This work acquainted the reader with the knowledge of what popular democracy is and the importance of free and fair election in consolidating democratic regime in Nigeria. The relevant of this study that it will also help provide more solutions to the challenges of voter apathy in which the country has found herself. The survey method was employed in carrying out this research. Questionnaires were administered to elicit answers from sampled respondents in selected Area council of AMAC. A total of 400 respondent responded to 11 questions in the questionnaire, Taro Yamane sampling technique was used to obtained sample size from sample population of 2,135,945. Findings revealed that of 677, 421 total number of registered voters in Abuja Municipal area council election as of 2019, only 98,543 did cast vote, which amount to 14.54% voters’ turnout; that poor political organization and voters’ education in congruence with low level of education, illiteracy, nonchalant attitude towards electoral process, especially where majority of voters ( about 65%) neglect to pick up their permanent voters card; and could not be accredited to vote; that the nature of Nigerian politics is another factor since Nigeria politics is labelled politics of acrimony, bitterness; that since elected representatives fail to deliver on their campaign promises, that the electorates have lost trust in the government and electoral management body and finds it difficult to participate in the electoral process. The study did recommend amongst others; the provision of security that guarantee safety of lives of the electorate, ensuring and sustaining justice, transparency in all the conduct of INEC, voters’ education, political will to effect the electoral act to its fullest and guaranteeing of liberty. In conclusion, voters’ turnout at AMAC was very low and this is detrimental to well being of democracy and could easy lead to manipulation of electoral conduct and result.