The interesting part of democracy not only lies in the number of registered political parties and voters but rather on the degree of popular participation in the general democratic process which includes voting. Democratic process is a process expected of every citizen of voting age to participate in this is because the process not only avails them the opportunity to exercise their ultimate sovereignty but to take actual part in the government of the nation. However taking an actual part in government does not entail occupying a portfolio in government but rather gives citizen a compulsory role to play in choosing who governs them which can be done through contesting or voting of credible members to represent them. One of the features of democracy is effective participation in voting process in electing credible persons. Therefore, a political system is democratic to the extent that its most powerful collective decision-makers are selected through fair, honest and periodic elections in which candidates freely compete for votes and in which virtually all the adult population is eligible to vote. But unfortunately, the incessant acts of bombings, kidnapping, harassment and electoral violence associated with electoral process in Nigeria not only destroys and sends a negative perception about the country’s democratic process but it also weakens active voting process as voters gradually losses interest in coming out to vote since the security of their lives and properties are not assured.
Voting, which is supposed to be an important ingredient of democracy, is perceived as the business of party supporters and political thugs who are paid peanuts to turn the whole process of election into a violence-packed political jamboree suitable for only fiendish individuals with violent minds thereby making many Nigerians believe that politics a dirty and dangerous game.
From most political science researches I have seen, I notice that political trend in the country does not encourage popular participation in politics as active participation in political activities is tantamount to embarking on a journey of no return. Many Nigerians even believe that with or without their votes the electoral commission already has their winners and as such the people feel reluctant in coming out to vote in mass. The true meaning of politics has been wrongly interpreted by the attitudinal and behavioural expressions of our politicians who venture into politics not with the mind to serve but to be served. They interpret politics to mean a platform for selfish aggrandizement and accumulation of wealth and fame to the detriment of the electorates thereby subjecting citizens to perpetual suffering and struggle to make ends meet while those who are supposed to be serving them are feeding on them and living a luxurious and expensive lifestyle. Winning of elections in Nigeria does not depend on the people’s choice but on the number of political thugs, cultists, political god-fathers and mothers at the disposal of public office contestants. All these happenstances during electoral process are what discourage the electorates form active participation during election thereby promoting political apathy among the citizens.

ELECTORAL VIOLENCE

Electoral violence is any harm or threat of harm to any person or property involved in the electoral process or during election periods. Electoral violence is also seen as all forms of organized acts of threats physical, psychological and structural aimed at intimidating, harming and blackmailing a political stakeholder before, during and after an election with a view to determining, delaying or otherwise influencing an electoral process.
Electoral violence thus constitutes any threat, intimidation or assault intentionally committed to mar the whole electoral process it could be to prevent the wining of a particular party or candidate or just to cause total disruption of the electoral process. By the electoral process, I mean the process created legally for the conduct of elections in a democracy which enables a free, fair, just and equitable determination of who leads or govern in a country. However, any action that hinders the electoral process from producing a free, fair and credible election constitutes electoral violence. Also rigging and the manipulation of the electoral process to the advantage of a particular candidate or political party, perpetrated at any level of the electoral process from the delimitation of the constituencies to the adjudication of election disputes constitute electoral violence. In the realm of politics, electoral violence is the worst form of political violence because it undermines a democratic process and endangers the security of the state and the stability of the economy.

POLITICAL APATHY

Apathy is the mental state of not caring much about something or about anything at all. It is the suppression of passion, emotion or excitement for something. We have political apathy, religious apathy, cultural apathy, etc.
Political apathy is defined as the lack of interest in taking active part in matters of politics either by voting or being voted for or having no share in political activities. Political apathy is expressed and measured by the degree of political phobia and non-participation in political activities in a country. But contrary to situations in which more Nigerians clamour for democracy they however, at the same time shun political activities such as participation in elections, contributing to public opinions, joining of political parties etc. which gradually leads to political apathy.

ELECTORAL VIOLENCE AND POLITICAL APATHY

The continuing dialogue on the subject of global decline in voter turnout during elections has raised major concerns not only among political scientists, intellectuals, researchers but also among different renowned electoral institutions, governments and as a matter of fact, among concerned citizens of the globe. Elections, which principally determine the level upon which countries have been able to achieve social equality, as it presents to the citizens the opportunity to decide who represents them in governance, is elementary to the stability of democracy. The duly deserved opportunity the masses have to elect those that represent them in governance is fundamental to democracy because it regulates representation of popular will. However, persistent display of lack of psychological involvement in Nigeria’s electioneering processes by the citizens over the years has been the major clog in the developmental wheel of the country’s democracy.
Overall, the electioneering processes of Nigeria over the years have been characterized by several untoward tendencies ranging 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, to mention a few, hence apathy naturally sets in.

CONCLUSION

Conclusively, political apathy can be seen to some degree in every society, be it in the developed world or the developing countries, but the degree to which it prevails differs between countries. However, for a democracy to be strengthened there must be a high level of political awareness with genuine interest in political activities on the part of the citizens. Unfortunately, the intensity of electoral violence and fraud in Nigeria has left the task of nation-building entrusted to the care of political plunders, social marauders, and corrupt over-ambitious politicians who ordinarily would not have gotten close to the corridors of power had there been popular participation and high voters turnout in public elections.
Voter apathy is a product of electoral violence and it negatively impacts upon the electoral process and its outcome. There is, therefore, the urgent need to embark on serious holistic electoral reforms that will bring about free, fair and credible elections to stimulate popular participation in the electoral process. There is need for activation of Electoral Laws; active role of the people in fighting electoral violence, Incumbent political office holders should resign before contesting elections, Deployment of trained security personnel to election venues to ensure a free, fair and credible election devoid of any form of electoral violence.

Lack of good education might be partly responsible for that....nice piece

Hmmn