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Abstract
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election witnessed a distressing escalation in voter suppression and a stark decline in political participation, reflecting a systemic failure to address underlying issues despite legislative reforms and technological innovations aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. This project, titled "Voter Suppression and Political Participation: A Case Study of the 2023 Presidential Election," seeks to delve into the intricate dynamics surrounding these phenomena. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the research will employ questionnaires and focus group interviews to impartially analyze the
causal and contributory factors behind voter suppression and low political engagement within the Nigerian electoral system. Despite the implementation of ground breaking provisions in the Electoral Act 2022, the 2023 election emerged as one of the least participated and most marred by irregularities in recent memory. Instances of voter
suppression, ranging from intimidation to manipulation of electoral boundaries, were rampant across various states, casting doubt on the efficacy of previous efforts to foster political participation. Moreover, reports of electoral violence and underage voting further underscored the erosion of public confidence in the electoral process. Against this
backdrop, this research set out to examine the intricate relationship between votersuppression and political participation via a literature review and qualitative survey analysis. The study found that there were significant levels of voter suppression in the 2023 presidential elections and this impacted on citizen’s political engagement.
causal and contributory factors behind voter suppression and low political engagement within the Nigerian electoral system. Despite the implementation of ground breaking provisions in the Electoral Act 2022, the 2023 election emerged as one of the least participated and most marred by irregularities in recent memory. Instances of voter
suppression, ranging from intimidation to manipulation of electoral boundaries, were rampant across various states, casting doubt on the efficacy of previous efforts to foster political participation. Moreover, reports of electoral violence and underage voting further underscored the erosion of public confidence in the electoral process. Against this
backdrop, this research set out to examine the intricate relationship between votersuppression and political participation via a literature review and qualitative survey analysis. The study found that there were significant levels of voter suppression in the 2023 presidential elections and this impacted on citizen’s political engagement.
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