Voters Apathy and Democratic Election in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akawa Ibom State

ABSTRACTThis study was carried out on the findings on voters apathy and democratic election in Ibiono Ibom Local Government of Akawa Ibom State, Nigeria . The study was carried out to examine how lack of interest among voters has affected democratic election in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. To examine how poor electoral processes has affected democratic election in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, and to examine how electoral violence tends to demoralize the interest of voters which in turn affected democratic election in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprised of residents of Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. In determining the sample size, the researcher purposefully selected 225 respondents and 200 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables, and mean scores. While the hypotheses was tested chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that Lack of interest among Voters has affected democratic election, Poor electoral process has affects democratic election, and violence tends to demoralize the interest of voters which in turn affected democratic election in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Therefore, it is recommended that there is urgent need for political education in Nigeria especially the people in the riverine and rural areas like Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. Political education should not be limited to the school system. Both formal and informal approaches should be adopted to orientate the citizens on the need for active participation in the political system. There is the need for mass political enlightenment through the media, adult education programme and civil associations. So that the citizens should be conscious of the danger of their political apathy. To mention but a few.