DEMOCRACY AND ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC: AN INQUIRY INTO THE FACTORS BEHIND VOTER APATHY

Abstract

This paper investigates the persistent and troubling phenomenon of voter apathy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999–2023). Despite the initial optimism that greeted the return to democratic rule, voter turnout has witnessed a significant decline, reaching a historic low in the 2023 general elections. This trend poses a fundamental threat to the legitimacy and consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy. Using a qualitative approach based on a systematic review of existing literature, election reports, and socio-political analyses, this paper argues that voter apathy in Nigeria is not a sign of citizen indifference but a rational response to a confluence of deeply entrenched systemic failures. The inquiry identifies four primary causal factors: (1) pervasive electoral malpractice and the perceived weakness of the electoral umpire, (2) the persistent threat of political violence and widespread insecurity, (3) chronic governance failures and debilitating socio-economic conditions, and (4) a dysfunctional political culture characterized by a lack of party ideology and elite disconnection from the electorate. The paper finds that these factors interact to erode public trust, diminish the perceived efficacy of the vote, and foster widespread disillusionment with the democratic process. The study concludes that unless these structural and institutional deficits are addressed through comprehensive electoral reform, improved governance, and a reorientation of the political class, voter apathy will continue to undermine the foundations of Nigeria's democratic experiment. Recommendations are offered for key stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the government, political parties, and civil society, to rebuild trust and re-engage the Nigerian electorate. The research is guided by the theory of cumulative political disenfranchisement by identifying specific variables and showing their relationship. It provides the structure for the research paper's analysis.