DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

The global economic and financial crisis/ meltdown which the whole world witnessed in the past few years, took a toll on Nigerian and African economies. This project research work examines its impacts and implications. In the course of doing this, the paper looks at its origin/causes, global spread factors), polices responses and of course some possible recommendations for more effective and positive results, in order to insulate African's and Nigerian's economies from possible future occurrence of the financial crises. Consequently, in exploring this subject matter, this paper examins the impact and policy responses starting with Western economy of Europe and America, it then trickles down to the African gradual economic integration to the global economy, right from the colonial era, and the ripple effects of the global financial doom on the economic sectors of African which are; real sector, financial sector, fiscal sector and external sector, focussing on foreign exchange market.
Furthermore, it moves down to Nigerian political economy, highlighting the impact and the recovery prospects from the oil sector. Finally, the research carried out, examined and interpreted a survey finding which was undertaken by the researcher to ascertain and substantiates the causes, spread, impact of the financial crunch/ downturn and the level of the potency of policy responses to ameliorate the negative impact. The result of the survey shows that, corruption, sharp practices, greed, inadequate financial managerial skill and knowledge by the financial regulators and institutions among others caused the global liquidity squeeze and economic integration (globalization) as being responsible for its global spread and also that there is a fair awareness of the impact among Nigerians. Some viable policy prescriptions and recommendations were therefore proffered, like, building a virile economy through indiginization of financial and economic reforms, increasing measures to deter and checkmate greed and sharp practices by financial institutions and regulators, employment of professionals and experts in economic and financial sectors together with regular and periodic training on latest operation techniques, taking the issue of economic diversification and fiscal discipline seriously to ensure resilient self reliant economy, among others.

This study examined the influence of social media on voting patterns among Faculty of Social Sciences students at the University of Benin, using the 2023general elections as a case study. The research focused on four key variables: social media influence, exposure to misinformation or fake news, peer discussions, and the frequency of social media use, and their effect on students’ political opinions, candidate preferences, and electoral participation. A descriptive and inferential research design was employed, with data collected from300 students using structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that social media significantly shapes political opinions and voting behavior, with exposureto fake news affecting trust in candidates, peer discussions moderately influencingvoting decisions, and frequent social media use enhancing political awareness and participation. The study concluded that social media plays a central role in shaping electoral behavior among university students, both as an informative tool and a potential source of misinformation. Based on these findings, the study recommended promoting digital literacy, enhancing fact-checking mechanisms, encouraging responsible social media engagement, and fostering peer education to ensure informed electoral participation. The research contributes to understanding the role of social media in political communication and provides insights for students, policymakers, and election stakeholders.

This study examined the impact of farmers and herders conflict on agricultural production in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The research aimed to identify the major causes of the conflict, assess its effects on crop and livestock production, and evaluate the coping strategies adopted by affected farmers. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, and data were collected from a sample of farmers and herders through structured questionnaires and interviews. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentages, and mean scores.
Findings revealed that competition over land and water resources, encroachment of farmlands by herders, and destruction of crops by cattle were the major causes of the conflict. The study also found that the conflict led to a decline in crop yield, loss of farm income, displacement of farmers, and reduced food availability in the area. Furthermore, it was observed that most farmers resorted to self-help mechanisms such as fencing, local mediation, and relocation of farms to minimize losses.
The study concluded that the recurring conflict between farmers and herders poses a significant threat to agricultural sustainability and rural livelihoods in Edo State. It recommended that government and community leaders strengthen conflict resolution mechanisms, provide designated grazing reserves, enforce land use policies, and promote peaceful coexistence through dialogue and awareness programs.

This primary task of this study was to examine Third World Countries, Foreign and Domestic Economic Development: xamination of the Impacts in Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey. The population for this study was Lecturers from the University of Benin. A total number of twenty (20) respondents from the Departments of Political Science and Economics were drawn from the population of the study using the purposive sampling technique. The research instrument for the study was a Questionnaire titled: ‘Third World Countries, Foreign and Domestic Economic Development: Examination of the Impacts in Nigeria’ which was distributed to the respondents and collected immediately after completion. The simple percentage and mean score was used in computing the responses of the questionnaire items. To account for the reliability of the study, the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used which gave a value of 0.83. At the end of the study, the researcher found amongst others that the inflow of foreign aid and development assistance, contributes to poverty reduction and human
development outcomes in Third World nations; foreign aid effectively alleviates poverty and improves living conditions; foreign aid contributes to the development of private sector enterprises and entrepreneurship. It was recommended amongst others that the government should explore microfinance institutions and small enterprises in driving domestic economic development in third world countries

The study is concerned with the assessment of the Impact of Cyber Crime On Nigeria's image in The International Community, using the report of returned legal migrants, the study adopted an interview schedule to collate the response of 10 returned
legal migrants. The study found out that; cybercrime is rampant in Nigeria, encompassing various illicit activities such as phishing scams, online fraud, identity theft, and malware attacks. This prevalence of cybercrime not only poses significant challenges
to individuals and businesses within Nigeria but also tarnishes the country's reputation in the international community. The research also explored the report of returned legal migrants examining the profound challenges they face upon reintegration into Nigerian society. Stigmatization, social ostracism, and difficulties finding legitimate employment opportunities were commonly reported experiences, reflecting the enduring impact of their involvement in cybercriminal activities abroad. The study also highlights the diplomatic ramifications of cybercrime on Nigeria's international relations and foreign policy objectives. Instances of cyber attacks originating from Nigeria can strain bilateral ties, undermine trust and cooperation with foreign partners, and damage Nigeria's reputation as a responsible member of the global community. The study recommended that the EFCC have to increase its task to salvage the image of Nigeria in the international community as a whole by increasing efforts to curb cyber crimes among Nigerians, also the government should create an enabled enviroment for citizens to be able to go about legitimate businesses to make ends meet.

This study investigates the role of the military in Nigeria’s democratic consolidation during the Fourth Republic (1999–2024), focusing on three key dimensions: internal security and stability maintenance, support for democratic transitions, and the reinforcement of civil-military relations. Despite over two decades of uninterrupted civilian rule, Nigeria’s democracy continues to face challenges from insecurity, weak institutions, and residual authoritarian influences, making the military a pivotal actor in democratic sustenance. Guided by a quantitative descriptive survey design, data were collected from 400 respondents, including military personnel, civil servants, political scientists, and civilians across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square tests to examine the relationships between military roles and democratic consolidation. The findings reveal that the military’s engagement in internal security, its support for peaceful democratic transitions, and improved civil-military relations all have significant positive effects on democratic consolidation. The study concludes that a professional, constitutionally guided, and democratically accountable military is crucial to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy. Recommendations include strengthening civilian oversight, integrating democratic values into military training, and fostering inter-agency cooperation to maintain stability without undermining democratic norms

It is an indubitable fact that most plans/activities lies of any sep-up may come to naught if here is lack of revenue or finance to effectuate to one roas task. It is also germane to stress that just as air food and water are importance for human existence so also does revenue from the sine-quoin for any human or government existence and survival If is therefore sufficient to observe that the issue of revenue allocation and always been highly contentious and invariable generated a lot of conflicting and divergent controversies in Nigeria. The issue has been the allocation between various tiers of government vertical allocation and between resource rich and resource-poor regions (horizontal allocation). More recently, another dimension has been introduced to the vertical issue, namely the allocation between the resources-rich regions, local government and community.

Since the return to civilian rule in Nigeria in 1999, successive elections have reflected both progress in electoral administration and persistent challenges to integrity. The 2023 presidential election, which introduced technological innovations such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing (IREV) portal, was intended to enhance transparency and credibility. However, logistical failures, security concerns, and allegations of manipulation continued to undermine public confidence in the electoral process. This study examines the dynamics of political influence in the 2023 presidential election in Edo State, a key battleground that illustrates the interaction between formal electoral procedures and informal political practices.

The study investigates how incumbency advantages, party financing, and patron-client networks shaped electoral outcomes at multiple stages, from voter mobilization to result collation. It further explores how identity-based mobilization strategies, particularly along ethnic and religious lines, were deployed by opposition actors to counterbalance ruling-party dominance. Drawing on a qualitative analysis of electoral processes and political behavior, the research highlights how administrative inefficiencies and political interference are mutually reinforcing rather than independent phenomena.

Findings reveal that political actors exploited both institutional gaps and informal networks to influence electoral officials, manipulate voter behavior, and shape campaign narratives. These dynamics weakened procedural safeguards and compromised the neutrality of electoral administration. The study concludes that while technological reforms represent important steps toward electoral transparency, they are insufficient without stronger protections against political intrusion at the sub-national level. It recommends targeted institutional reforms for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and greater engagement of civil society organizations to enhance accountability and safeguard electoral integrity.

Overall, this research contributes to the broader discourse on democratic consolidation by providing a detailed, state-level analysis of electoral politics and highlighting the need for context-specific strategies to strengthen democracy in Nigeria’s federal system.

The study examined N-Power policy and youth unemployment in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The objectives of the study include the following: to examine how N-Power programme has reduce the rate of unemployment in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, to investigate N-Power programme influence on skill acquisition amongst youth in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, to examine the challenges facing N-Power programme in the reduction of unemployment in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, and give possible recommendations to the challenges facing N-Power programme towards unemployment reduction in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study comprises all staff of Egor Local Government Area and all beneficiaries of the Npower programme in Egor Local Government Area. According to the Human Resource Department of Egor Local Government Area, the total staff strength of council members is 1087, while that of Npower (N-Agro, N-Comm, N-Health and N-Tech) beneficiaries is 556. The instrument used for the collection of data was the questionnaire, which was administered to the study's sampled respondents. Out of the 185 questionnaires distributed, 177 copies were retrieved. The data collected was analyzed using simple percentage and chi chi-square analytical method to test the hypotheses generated for the study. The study discovered, amongst others, that, N-power programme has contributed to the reduction of unemployment in Egor Local Government Area. The study also discovered that factors like inadequate funding, lack of fairness in the selection, and inadequate supervision are challenges facing the N-Power policy and youth unemployment in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. Furthermore, policy recommendations were adopted which include, amongst others, that adequate funding of the N-power programme should be made available for the sustainability of the programme. Also, programme continuity should be ensured at all costs. Every succeeding government should evaluate the social intervention programmes of the preceding government, adopt, implement and sustain the positive impacting ones and abrogate the negative ones.

The purpose of this research work is to examine the Role of Social Media on Local Government politics: Using Ovia North East as a case study. Three Research questions and Three Research hypothesis was examined in the study. To achieve this, the descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study focused on Ovia North East Local government Area hence, population consists of all adults 18 years and above, residing in Ovia North East Local government Area. The stratified random sampling technique was used to select a sample of 75 adults. To this end, the researcher recommended that social media should be used more on campaigns of those seeking political offices to reveal their manifestoes to a wider reach of electorates. The harmful effect of using social media to discredicts political opponents through spreading of disinformation and fake news should be stopped by those politicians involved as the betterment of the country is more than anyones selfish interests. The laws on punishments of those spreading fake news should be properly enforce, to desist those involved in spreading fake news