IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE ON ELECTION VIOLENCE – THE CASE OF 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA
Abstract
The vision of every nation going through a nascent democracy is to have a seamless electioneering process that would produce credible and effective leaders who reflect the will of the people. However, this may not always be so, as the exercise may be fraught with violence. This qualitative narrative research examines the impact of substance abuse on election violence with particular reference to the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. Data collection was done through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in two homogenous groups of participants comprising ten (10) males and females in each group from Makurdi, Nigeria. Participants were briefed, and they filled out the consent form to show willingness to participate. They were aged between 26 and 63 years and had voted in the 2023 elections. A set of written question statements guided the discussions to direct the sessions by the interviewer, while two reporters recorded the responses of the participants. Responses were retrospective and experiences were based not only on what was witnessed in the participants’ polling stations but also on scenes from the electronic and social media. Discussions confirmed different forms of violence and that these were largely carried out by the young people and fuelled by the political elites. Both groups attested to the increase of substance use and abuse during elections but differentiated types along rural and urban lines, with alcoholic beverages being more in use in the rural and synthetic drugs more popular in the urban, but also opined that marijuana use cuts across the divide. They agreed that consumption of psychoactive substances could have aided in physical and verbal violent actions like kidnapping, fighting, macheting, killing, stuffing and snatching of ballot boxes, abuses, threats, and the like. They suggested that families, schools, communities, and government should work hard to educate voters on the need for a violence-free election and to contain the excessive use of psychoactive substances, especially during elections. Finally, the need to prosecute election offenders to deter others from indulging in the same was reiterated.
Article visualizations:
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Amendments 2011. Decree No. 24, 5th May 1999, P. LL 77 Section 133.
Abdu-Raheem, B. & Bamgbade, F. A. (2023). Perception of university undergraduates on electoral malpractice in Southwest, Nigeria. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(4), 7-16. Retrieved from https://iiste.org/Journals/index.php/RHSS/article/viewFile/60521/62468
Akokuwebe, M. E. (2017). Youth unemployment and electoral malpractices in Nigeria. The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 15(1), 139-156. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.36108/NJSA/7102/51(0190)
Aksom, H. (2023). Entropy and institutional theory. International Journal of Organisational Analysis, 31(7), 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-03-2022-3213
Alfa, P. I., Eikojonwa, O., & Ibn-Mohammed, I. (2020). The political class as a threat to democracy in Nigeria’s fourth republic. Review of Politics and Public Policy in Emerging Economies, 2(2), 111- 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.26710/rope.v2i2.1716
Carter, P. M., Cranford, J. A., Buu, A., Walton, M. A., Zimmerman, M. A., Goldstick, J., Ngo, Q., & Cunningham, R. M. (2020). Daily patterns of substance use and violence among a high-risk urban emerging adult sample: Results from the Flint Youth Injury Study. Addictive Behaviours, 101, 106127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.106127
Chironda, M. (2023). Unmasking corruption: Examining Nigeria’s 2023 Election Fallout. Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/599150-unmasking-corruption-examiningnigerias-2023-election-fallout.html
Ebije, N. (2020). 10% of Kaduna residents abuse drugs-official. The Sun Newspaper. Retrieved from https://www.sunnewsonline.com/10-of-kaduna-residents-invoved-abuse-drug-abuse/amp
Ebonine, V. C. (2022a). Darkening the Dark: Assessing the Impact of Banditry on Educational and Socio-Economic Development in Northern Nigeria. Journal of Black Studies, 53(6) 554–585. https://doi.org/10.1177/00219347221086312
Ebonine, V. C. (2022b). Classical Conditioning and Amnestication of Terrorists in Northern Nigeria: The Need for Critical Re-evaluation. African Journal of Terrorism and Insurgency Research (AJoTIR), 3(2), 57-85. https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-aa_ajtir_v3_n2_a3
Ekweremadu, I. (2011). General Election: A Critical Review. Thisday, 16(5876), 23. Retrieved from https://allafrica.com/stories/201105260773.html
Eneji, A. P. & Ikeorji, C. R. (2018). Youth Political Participation and Electoral Violence in the 21st Century Nigeria: Bridging the Gap World. Journal of Innovative Research 4(6), 9-13. Retrieved from https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/262477-youth-political-participation-and-electo-79eea16d.pdf
Foster, P. (2018). Men and the Health Care Industry: An Unhealthy Relationship? Open University Press.
Grace, O. U., Timothy, U. U. & Sunday, O. V. O. (2023). Democracy and 2023 General Elections in Nigeria: Retrospect and Prospects. Direct Research Journal of Social Science and Educational Studies, 11(4), 54-66. Retrieved from https://directresearchpublisher.org/drjsses/files/2023/07/Democracy-and-2023-General-Elections-in-Nigeria-a-Retrospect-and-Prospects.pdf
Idowu, H. A. (2022). Democratic and electoral process in Nigeria: A forecast into the 2023 general elections. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, 18(2), 145-176. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366603551_Democratic_and_Electoral_Process_in_Nigeria_A_Forecast_into_the_2023_General_Elections
Ifedi, F. O., Ngwu, E. C. & Nnamani, R. G. (2023). Election and Security Challenges: Critical Issues in Nigeria’s 2023 General Election. University of Nigeria Journal of Political Economy (UNJPE), 13(1), 116-136. Retrieved from https://unjpe.com/index.php/UNJPE/article/view/215
Igbuzor, O. (2010, January 15-16). Strengthening and Defending Democracy: Options for CSO Engagement and Capacity Needs for Effectiveness. Joint Forum on Resolving the Political Impasse in Nigeria, 1-15.
Ikelegbe, A. O. (2019). Politics and Governance in Nigeria: Perspectives, Issues and Cases. Ibadan: John Archers Ltd. Retrieved from https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/14065196
Izom, Y. D., Kombo, I. S. & Gwadabe, M. M. (2023). Effects of Substance Abuse Consumption and Socio-Economic Development in Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Analysis, 06(12), 6110-6119. http://10.47191/ijmra/v6-i12-80
Lanre, A. I. (2021). Nigerian youths' involvement in political violence: the role of peer pressure, drug abuse, social dominance and gang membership. International journal of advanced research in multidisciplinary studies (IJARMS), 1(2), 150-157. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/73513785/YOUTH_INVOLVEMENT_IN_POLITICAL_VIOLENCE#:~:text=It%20was%20also%20found%20that,than%20street%20urchins%20with%20low
Lebni, J. Y. Ziapour, A. Qorbani, M. et al. (2020). The Consequences of Regular Methamphetamine Use in Tehran: Qualitative Content Analysis. Substance Abuse Treatment. https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13011-020-00277-3
Maimako, M. H., Yunus, S. A. & Rukaiyat, A. (2023). Psychoactive Substance Use as a Correlate of Electoral Violence in Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State. African Journal of Humanities & Contemporary Education Research, 12(2), 120-131. Retrieved from https://publications.afropolitanjournals.com/index.php/ajhcer/article/view/610
Meyer, J. W., & Rowan, B. (1977). Institutionalized organisations: Formal structure as myth and ceremony. American Journal of Sociology, 83(2), 340-363. Retrieved from https://www.iot.ntnu.no/innovation/norsi-pims-courses/harrison/Meyer%20&%20Rowan%20(1977).PDF
National Bureau of Statistics [NBS] (2022). Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022). Abuja: NBS.
NIDA (2021). Commonly Used Drugs Charts. Retrieved from https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/commonly-used-drugs-charts
Obiagu, U. C. (2023). Repeated irregularities and contested election outcomes: Explaining Nigeria’s seven quadrennial election cycles. Qeios, 1-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.32388/K3KXCN
Obiagu, U. C., & Abada, I. M. (2023). Government interference in election administration and lethal electoral irregularities in Africa: Evidence from Nigeria. Qeios, 7-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.32388/FEUGJY
Ogeze, U., & David, O. (2023). Effect of Vote Buying in Nigeria: A Study of the 2019 General Election. Journal of Public Policy and Administration, 8(2), 67-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.47604/jppa.1851
Okolo, P. O. (2022). Alcoholism, Drug Abuse, and Cultism (ADAC) in Nigerian Universities. Pp. 415-428 in The Nigerian Security Dilemma since 1999: Challenges, Strategic Options, and Way Forward, edited by Atelhe, A. G., and Wahab, G. A. Kaduna: Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364258710_Alcoholism_Drug_Abuse_and_Cultism_ADAC_in_Nigerian_Universities_In_Atelhe_GA_Wahab_GA_2022The_Nigerian_Security_Dilemma_Since_1999_Challenges_Strategic_Options_and_Way_Forward
Oluwagbohunmi, M. F. (2020). Political Apathy: A Worrisome Impediment to Electoral Process in Nigeria. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(4), 61-66. https://doi.org/10.7176/RHSS/10-4-09
Omotoso, O. F. (2019). Politics of power and power of politics: the anatomy of Nigerian government and politics. The 56th inaugural lecture in Ekiti State University, Tuesday, 10th September. https://books.google.ro/books/about/56th_Inaugual_Lecture.html?id=I5pSzwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Oranga, J. and Matere, A. (2023). Qualitative Research: Essence, Types and Advantages. Open Access Library Journal, 10, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1111001
Osumah, O. & Aghemelo, A. T. (2010). Elections in Nigeria since the End of Military Rule. AFRICANA, 4(2), 37-51.
Otache, I., Alfa, I. P., & Ali, Y. (2023). Civic education and voting intentions among the electorate: the roles of attitudes towards voting behaviour and educational level. Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, 387-398. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/TG-09-2022-0123
Pal, S. (2020). 10 Countries Where Weed Is Legal and You Can Freely Light up a Joint. Retrieved from https://curlytales.com/countries-where-weed-is-legal-you-can-freely- light-up-a-joint/amp/esp=1
Paranjape, N. V. (2019). Criminology and Penology (including Victimology), Eighteenth Edition. Delhi, India: Central Laws Publications. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Criminology_Penology.html?id=hhRjzgEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Patriotta, G. (2020). Actors and actor-hood in institutional theory. Journal of Management Studies, 57(4), 867-872. https://doi.org/10.1111/joms.12558
Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2018). Opioids, cocaine, cannabis, and illicit drugs. Our World in Data. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/illicit-drug-use
Sandhu, S. (2018). Neo‐Institutional Theory. The international encyclopedia of strategic communication, 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119010722.iesc0116
Scott, W. R. (1987). The adolescence of institutional theory. Administrative Science Quarterly, 493-511. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/2392880
Siro, A. A. (2014). Drug Abuse and Political Thuggery among the Youth in Kano Metropolis: A Modern Civilization or Resource Mismanagement? Research on Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(4), 76-84. Retrieved from https://infinitypress.info/index.php/jsss/article/view/515
Stratton S. J. (2024). Purposeful Sampling: Advantages and Pitfalls. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine: 39 (2): 121. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049023x24000281
Stoltz, D. S., Taylor, M. A. & Lizardo, O. (2019). Functionaries: Institutional Theory without Institutions, 1-9. Retrieved from https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/p48ft_v1
Uche, E. & Okechukwu, E. (2023). The Politics of Exclusion & Governance in Nigeria: A Thematic Analysis of the Buhari Administration. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v6-i2-42
Udenta, N. C. & Udenta, J. O. E. (2024). Political Apathy in 2023 General Elections in Nigeria: A Case Study of Enugu State, Nigeria. IAA Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 65-78. https://doi.org/10.59298/IAAJSS/2024/101.65.78000
Ugwu, C. (2023, March 18). #NigeriaDecides 2023: Low turnout of voters in Enugu. Retrieved from https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/588347-nigeriadecides2023- low-turnout-of-voters-in-enugu.html
Ukpong, P. J., & Udoh, M. A. (2023). Voting System and Electoral Malpractices in Nigeria: A Case Study of the Fourth Republic of Nigeria, 1-12. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/573334407.pdf
UNODC. Drug Use in Nigeria (2018). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Vienna. Retrieved from https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/statistics/Drugs/Drug_Use_Survey_Nigeria_2019_Exsum.pdf
Usman, U., & Saleh, U. D. (2024). Go To Court: Perspective of Electoral Offenders In Nigeria. Fuoye Journal of Criminology and Security Studies, 3(2). Retrieved from https://fjcss.fuoye.edu.ng/index.php/fjcss/article/view/98
Uzoanya, C. (2023). 2023 Polls: Is Nigeria Beyond Redemption? Retrieved from: https://independent.ng/2023-polls-is-nigeria-beyond-redemption/
Witesman, E. M. (2016). An institutional theory of the non-profit: Toll goods and voluntary action. Non-profit and voluntary sector quarterly, 45(4), 97-115. https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764016651729
Yahaya, J. B. (2019). The Effect of Drug Abuse among Youth in Nasarawa Local Government, Kano State, Nigeria (2014-2017). Journal of International Politics, 1(3), 13-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.22259/2642-8245.0103002
Yusuf, I. I., & Othman, Z. (2016). Challenges of electoral malpractices on democratic consolidation in Nigeria’s fourth republic. International review of management and marketing, 6(8), 103-107. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/367469
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v11i2.2002
Copyright (c) 2025 A. A. Ajonye, B. D. Aki, M. O. Oibiokpa, S. N. Hemba, H. O. Agbo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The research works published in this journal are free to be accessed. They can be shared (copied and redistributed in any medium or format) and\or adapted (remixed, transformed, and built upon the material for any purpose, commercially and\or not commercially) under the following terms: attribution (appropriate credit must be given indicating original authors, research work name and publication name mentioning if changes were made) and without adding additional restrictions (without restricting others from doing anything the actual license permits). Authors retain the full copyright of their published research works and cannot revoke these freedoms as long as the license terms are followed.
Copyright © 2016 - 2026. European Journal Of Social Sciences Studies (ISSN 2501-8590) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library. All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and standards formulated by Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002), the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2003) and Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003) and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Copyrights of the published research works are retained by authors.
