Electoral Violence in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States

Electoral violence remains a major threat to democratic stability in Nigeria, particularly in the South-South where political competition is tied to access to state resources. This study examines the causes and manifestations of electoral violence in Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, and assesses how institutional weaknesses, party rivalry, and socio-economic pressures shape recurring conflict. Using a mixed-methods design, quantitative data were obtained from the Nigeria Election Violence Tracker and INEC records (2011–2023), while qualitative insights came from interviews, newspaper archives, community reports, and civil society documents. Descriptive statistics, trend analysis, and thematic coding were applied to patterns across LGAs including Calabar South, Akpabuyo, Odukpani, Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, and Oron. Findings show that violence is driven by intense political competition, monetized elections, cult-group mobilization, weak law enforcement, and youth manipulation. The study recommends strengthening electoral security, enforcing sanctions, expanding civic education, and enhancing INEC’s capacity to reduce future electoral violence.

Electoral Violence, Democratic Governance, Political Competition, Institutional Weakness

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