VOTING BEHAVIOUR AMONG NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT

1.1 Introduction

Voting behaviour is a form of political behaviour. Understanding voters’ behaviour can explain how and why decisions were made either by public decision-makers, which has been a central concern for political scientists Goldman (2006), or by the electorate. To interpret voting behavior both political science and psychology expertise were necessary and therefore the field of political psychology emerged. Political psychology researchers study ways in which affective influence may help voters make more informed voting choices, with some proposing that affect may explain how the electorates make informed political choices in spite of low overall levels of political attentiveness and sophistication.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

1.2 Background of Study

Presently, the call for freedom and democracy echoes across the globe. The world has witnessed phenomenal shift from authoritarian style of governance to democratic rule. The fact still remain that state is no longer interested in interacting with other state where democracy is not practiced just like student politics in various higher level of learning in Nigeria.

The struggle for democratic government in Nigeria during military era is almost the same as anti-colonial struggle. This is because both the promoter and supporter of democracy in Nigeria are highly committed and dedicated before the transition comes to reality. In the process of achieving it, many of them lost their life, some were even detained while those who escaped the two gone on exile (Saliu, 2004:4). Now that democracy becomes Nigerian “Public good”, credible institutions are required to defend the system. It is in this context that democratic sustainability become imperative. Thus, democracy requires among others the supportive structures, such as political parties.

Election period in Nigeria is usually characterized by heightened activity where almost all aspects of the nation’s life are pushed to a fever pitch. Election period generates a lot of interest among the political candidates, the electorate and civil society, because the destiny of the people and the nation rests squarely on the shoulders of the successful candidates at the polls (Ende, 2013). One of the major activities in the build up to the election is the voter’s registration exercise, which is organized to ensure that only members of the public who are registered by the electoral body are allowed to vote during elections (ACE Project, 2016).

To make inferences and predictions about behaviour concerning a voting decision, certain factors such as gender, race, culture or religion must be considered. Moreover, key public influences include the role of emotions, political socialization, tolerance of diversity of political views and the media. The effect of these influences on voting behavior is best understood through theories on the formation of attitude, beliefs, schema, knowledge structures and the practice of information processing. For example, surveys from different countries indicate that people are generally happier in individualistic cultures where they have rights such as the right to vote (Diener, 2000). The degree, to which voting decision is affected by internal processing systems of political information and external influences, alters the quality of making truly democratic decisions (Andreadis & Chadjipadelis 2005).

As it is now prevalent, the previously mellow emphasis placed on the more knowledgeable, nubile, energetic and charismatic young voter to produce change in the Nigeria democratic stagnancy is seeing a monumental expansion. Such a blatant and direct statement comes with proof of not only increased levels of political participation by the youth but also more open sharing of thoughts and ideas about the process itself. Allowing consideration on dimensions of age, political immaturity and volatility in decision making, many recently conducted research indicated that almost half of the first time voters in Nigeria were ‘fence sitters’ or eleventh hour decision maker. It is these undecided, issue based, rational thinking young voters who played a rather important role in the 2015 General Elections in Ogun State, causing disconnect with the ruling party’s status quo styled campaign strategies (Pandian, 2015).

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Voting Behaviour among Nigerian University Student.

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that with the introduction of democratic norms, the level of political awareness among students participation seems to be very low. It was observed too that majority of voters lack basic knowledge about the entire political process to take rational decisions on election matters. This manifests in their traditional voting pattern as they vote on the basis of religion and ethnic ties rather than on political ideology and other important issues that are critical to human existence.

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to examine the Voting Behaviour among Nigerian University Student using BABCOCK and UNILAG as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To determine the factors influencing participation of students voting behaviour in Nigeria’s elections;
2. To examine the students perception on voting behaviour in Nigeria’s elections;
3. To know if age and gender affects the student’s participation in voting behaviour in Nigeria elections; and
4. To determine the extent to which the voting behaviour perception in Nigeria elections particularly Ogun State.

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are the factors influencing participation of students voting behaviour in Nigeria’s elections?
• Does age gender affect student’s participation in voting behaviour in Nigeria elections?
• What is the students’ perception on voting behaviour in Nigeria’s elections?

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant factors influencing the participation of students voting behaviour in Nigeria’s elections
• H1: There are significant factors influencing the participation of students voting behaviour in Nigeria’s elections

1.7 Significance of Study

This study will be of significance to students of different higher of learning as it would enlighten them on how to carried and conduct students government violence free elections and how it will prepare them for future leadership experience in Nigerian government as most students may be involved in politics.

The work will be of immense benefit to politicians, government agencies and other stakeholders who will appreciate the need to embark on sustained and an enduring enlightenment political campaigns rather than their periodic ritual which is only embarked on during elections as it is customary in Nigeria.

To media professionals who offer consultancy services to politicians as well as package their campaigns, they will see the need to re-engineer their tactics and strategies for optimal result.

It will also contribute greatly to the academic community by providing insight into the changing voting pattern of Nigerian electorate and student’s government. Interested scholars can thus, build on findings of the study.

Finally, this study will also help to serve as literature (reference source) to the public, individuals and corporate bodies into what to carry out on further research on voting behaviour among Nigeria’s university students.

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Voting Behaviour among Nigerian University Student using BABCOCK and UNILAG as a case study.

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
4. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
5. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.10 Definition of Terms

Politics: Politics refers to achieving and exercising positions of governance organized control over a human community particularly a state and a nation.

Political Parties: Political party is defined as a group of people who share a common conception of how and why state power should be organized and used.

Voting Behaviour: It is a form of political behaviour which understands voters’ behaviour can explain how and why decisions were made either by public decision-makers, which has been a central concern for political scientists, or by the electorate.