Voters’ Behaviour and Traditional Rulership Institution in Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections: A Study of Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State
Loading...
Date
2023-06-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ILORIN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
Abstract
Nigeria has held elections in a variety of settings since her independence in 1960, and it aspires to
improve on previous elections and the campaigning process. The selection and development of
candidates for office are significantly influenced by traditional leaders and their followers. During
election campaigns, political candidates go to the palaces of traditional monarchs to ask for their
approval and support. This happens in various parts of Nigeria during elections for state and local
offices as well as the presidency, when candidates visit first-class traditional rulers in all 36 states
of the nation as their first stop before launching their campaigns in those states. This has now
become the norm in Nigeria's modern politics. The study examines the impact of traditional
rulership institutions on the behaviour of voters in Baruten Local Government in the 2023 general
elections in Kwara State. It aims to determine the extent to which traditional rulers influence the
choice of electorates in the Baruten Local Government area of Kwara State. To achieve the main
objective, the research used mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) and data were generated
from primary and secondary sources. The population size of this work covered the four main
districts in the local government namely, Gwanara, Ilesha-baruba, Okuta, and Yashikira
respectively. In selecting the sampling size for this study, the Taro Yamane formula was adopted.
According to the study's results, 87% of participants voted during the 2023 elections; additionally,
research showed that traditional monarchs have a momentous impact on their citizens. The study
concluded that traditional rulers enjoy a high level of respect and credibility among their subjects
and can mobilize their subjects to vote for a certain political candidate.
Keywords: Voters’ Behaviour, Traditional Rulers, Influence, General Elections