Patronage and Power Politics in the 2027 Presidential Election in Nigeria
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Abstract
Nigeria's Fourth Republic has been shaped by power struggles and fierce political rivalry, even as the nation battles with complex insecurity and violence within its electoral democracy. The viability of democratic governance, however, is seriously threatened by the actions of modern political actors, who have increasingly fueled volatility. Using historical records, analysed employing a theme-based strategy, this study examines the tactics used by political actors and evaluates the consequences of these tactics for patronage politics in Nigeria. The findings reveal that the support extended by political actors to electoral candidates has fostered a volatile and fragile democratic environment characterised by inflammatory rhetoric, politically motivated violence, and instances of state-sanctioned aggression. The primary objective of this research is to develop a framework aimed at mitigating the risk of politically instigated violence in the coming 2027 general elections. Furthermore, this paper seeks to illuminate the existing insecurity divisions and violent conflicts, with the goal of facilitating strategies for managing and accommodating potential violent conflicts during the 2027 presidential election.
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