Influence of political strategies using ethnic and religious identities on voting behavior in 2019 National Assembly elections in Gombe state, Nigeria

Under a democratic electoral system, voters have the freedom and equal rights to vote for their leaders. However, since the creation of Gombe state in 1996, desperate politicians have been manipulating ethnic and religious identities to influence voting behavior to their political advantage, thus leading to the intimidation of the voters in the electoral process. This study examined the influence of ethnic and religious identities on voting behavior and identified the strategies used by politicians to influence ethnic and religious identities on voting behavior. This study also examined the outcome of government and group efforts in addressing the issue of the influence of ethnic and religious identities on voting behavior. Furthermore, the study also investigated the consequences or implications of the influence of ethnic and religious identities on voting behavior in the 2019 National Assembly elections in Gombe state. Rational Choice Theory is employed as the theoretical framework. A qualitative design based on a case study approach was adopted. Eighteen (18) informants, comprising partisan grassroots; non-partisan grassroots; community and ethnic identities leaders; religious leaders; government officials; NGO; and academicians, were selected through purposive and snowballing techniques sampling. In-depth interview was conducted via online Zoom Meeting, WhatsApp and normal phone calls. The data obtained were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. The findings reveal that while ethnic and religious identities sentiments were used as instruments of emotional appeal and mobilization, various forms of intimidation were also used as strategies to influence voting behavior. However, the main factors influencing voting behavior were abject poverty, low literacy and low political education or awareness levels. The study further reveals that government and NGO attempts to address the problem yielded less satisfactory results. Finally, the study finds that the influence of ethnic and religious identities on voting behavior led to voter intimidation and denial of their rights to freedom of choice. Articulate and well-monitored poverty alleviation and political education programs are recommended. The study significantly contributes to the knowledge of democracy, government, and policymaking. The study concludes that manipulating ethnic and religious identities to influence voting behavior has led to the perversion of democratic rational voting behavior and the entrenchment of a culture of ethnoreligious nationalism, thereby retarding the democratization process in Gombe state, Nigeria.

Text 122566.pdf Download (1MB) Official URL or Download Paper: https://ethesis.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/18613

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