Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 9, No. 1, 2011
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/1102.90.0140
Implications of Political and Electoral Violence in Southeastern Nigeria
Agbegbedia Oghenevwoke Anthony
Peace and Conflict Studies Programme, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Since the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates, political violence and problem of ethnic nationalism have found their way into the nation’s polity. Conservative politic became so desperate mostly in the Southeastern part of Nigeria, following the destruction of the Eastern bloc during the 1966-1970 civil wars, which erupted in the country. These struggles have great impacts on the political, socio cum economic aspects of the nation. In a number of well-publicized instances, the lost of ethnic identity and related armed violence have required state interventions to attempt to halt these political violence. This work explores what political and electoral violence is all about, and discusses history of political violence ill Nigeria but ill particular reference to the Southeastern zone. If states that, Igbo nationalism could be traced to the pre-colonial era, but has changed in structure and function. Though, politics and nationalism are regarded as being complex and ambiguous, they remain a challenge to the development of democracy in Nigeria..
Keywords: Politics, Electoral violence, southeastern