Arms Proliferation and Electoral Violence in West African sub-region: A Study of 2019 General Elections in Nigeria
- November 19, 2021
- Posted by: rsispostadmin
- Categories: IJRISS, Political Science, Social Science
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue X, October 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186
Professor Frank-Collins N. Okafor1, And Agu Chinonyelum F2
1Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Anambra State, Nigeria
2Department of Political Science, Caritas University Amorji Nike Enugu, Nigeria
Abstract: Some of the fundamental obstacles to peace and security in West African sub-region today are elections and proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The proliferation of small arms constitutes a major source of disruptions to our democracy and elections and outcome of elections. This has led to destruction of lives and properties and exacerbates inter-communal tensions leading to loss of confidence in our electoral system. The main aim of the study is to provide an analysis of 2019 general elections in Nigeria with the attendant electoral violence occasioned by arms proliferation. The study also aimed at identifying the root causes of electoral violence and arms proliferation and its implications to political development of the sub-region. The research design is descriptive and the framework of analysis adopted is Frustration-Aggression Theory and the qualitative research method. Secondary sources of data are used for the study. Some of the causes of electoral violence and arms proliferation in West Africa include, the borders of West African countries are porous, thus, making it easy for entry and exit of arms, conflicts, rising rates of unemployment, struggle for power and more so, the high level of corruption in West African countries. Also the implications include ethnic conflicts, corruption, lack of confidence and culture of violence and impunity in our electoral system etc. ECOWAS should as matter of urgency start addressing the causes of electoral violence and arms proliferation, government of the sub-region should avoid corruption and provide jobs to the teeming youth of the sub-region who are unemployed.
Key Words: Arms, electoral violence, weapons, democracy, West Africa, Nigeria
I. INTRODUCTION
One stimulant for the proliferation of SALW in West Africa is elections such that in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra-Leone, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Ghana and Nigeria elections, locally fabricated and imported pistols, and a range of assault rifles were used by political thugs. In one of the states in Nigeria, Cross River State, the police recovered 54 guns in 2002, 16 in possession of politicians and another eight from politically motivated murders. In Edo State a gubernatorial aspirant (Lucky Imasuen) was arrested in possession of arms. In Bayelsa State, eleven people were killed in shootout by politicians contesting councillorship elections. In Ondo State, police confirmed that a politician was stockpiling light weapons and found 13 single-barrel guns in his residence. In August 2003, the police arrested the son of a prominent senator whom the police believed to have been
