Title:
VOTERS APATHY IN DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF ONDO STATE NIGERIA: INTERROGATING THE 2020 GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

Authors:
Enikanselu Adebayo, Edema Olagoke O. and Oluwatukasi Eyiyemi B., Nigeria

Abstract:
Voters’ participation in election is essential for deciding leadership legitimacy in a democracy in any part of the globe. However, voters’ participation in Nigeria has continued to dwindle, may be due to failure of government and political elites to address social, political, economic and security challenges confronting the nation which Ondo state is not an exception. Existing literature showed that scholars has provide insights into voters’ apathy towards elections but did not comprehensively measured the extent of opinion about factors that influenced voters’ apathy in 2023 governorship election in ondo state Nigeria, underlining the need to reassess the issue. This study therefore assessed the factors that influenced voter apathy in 2020 governorship election in ondo state Nigeria and show extent of opinions. This study is rooted in rational choice theory. Both primary and secondary methods were adopted to gather data. This study found only 27% of registered voters participated in 2020 Ondo state’s Gubernatorial election indicating high apathy and questioning the election's legitimacy. It reveals extent which some factors such as age, education, tribe, political violence, lack of accountability, bad governance, and insufficient election information has influenced apathy was high, while health status, security and monetary inducements were less influential. To address voter apathy, it recommends engaging all age groups, increasing voter education, promoting inclusive policies, improving healthcare, security, strengthening political accountability, enhancing information dissemination and tackling financial barriers to foster higher voters’ participation and stronger democracy in Ondo State, Nigeria.