FACTORS THAT INFLUECED VOTERS BEHAVIOUR IN THE 2012 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION: A CASE STUDY OF SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

FACTORS THAT INFLUECED VOTERS BEHAVIOUR IN THE 2012 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION: A CASE STUDY OF SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE

Abstract:

The topic of this research work was the factors that influence voters Behaviour in the 2012 local government election: A case study of the Sabon-Gari local government area of Kaduna state. The research work therefore attempted to examine the factors that possibly influenced voters Behaviour during the 2012 Sabon-Gari local government election, and also attempted to examine the impact of such influences on both the voters and political processes of Sabon-Gari local government. Therefore, voting Behaviour as has been explained in the work, can be seen as an aspect of political Behaviour, that seek to determine the key variable that motivate voters to vote or not to vote, and for what reason. That is therefore, an attempt to find out the factors that are influencing voting patterns of electorates, in a given period of time. Voting Behaviour therefore is the conscious interest of individual in his decision to his leaders. Therefore, voting Behaviour is a form of political Behaviour, through how and why decisions were made either by the public decision makers or which has been the central concern for political scientist or electorates. In a nutshell, voting Behaviour can therefore be refer to as the exhibition of a particular voting practice by citizens of a country. The research work has reviewed literatures that are related to the topic. Also this research work adopted a Behaviouralism theory in other to analyze the factors that influence voters Behaviour. Behaviouralism can be traced back to the concept of general system theory, which had it’s origin from the writings of Budwig V. Bartallanty. The study adopted a sample random sampling whereby four (4) electoral wards were selected out of the eleven (11) wards that are in the local government. These four local government were: Dogarawa, Samaru, Hanwa and Basawa ward. Across all the four (4) wards, 120 questionnaires were distributed that is thirty (30) questionnaires to each ward. Eighty (80) out of one hundred and twenty (120) were returned which formed the basis of the data that was presented and analyzed. The findings of the research shows that there were many factors that influenced voters Behaviour during the election. Party manifesto has been responded by 25 respondents, which is equivalent to 31.5% and which has the highest of respondents by the electorate. Also, incumbency factor has been respondent by 20 electorates which is equivalent to 25%, then followed by the desire for change with 20 respondents also equivalent to 25%. Also, financial inducement has 10 respondents with 12.5% then others that were influenced by other factors had 5 respondents equivalent to 6%. Also, in the comparison of the chairmanship election result recorded at the polling unit and that of ward level revealed that Basawa has the total of 498.2 votes from all the parties that have contested in the election, in the polling unit while at ward level was 154.6 votes, in Dogarawa has the total of 346.4 at polling unit and 293 at the ward level. In Hanwa, it has the total of 122.6 at polling unit, and 313.6 at ward level whi8le in Samaru, it has the total of 169 at polling unit and 248.6 at ward level. Also in companion of the councillorship election result, Basawa has 144.6 at the polling unit and 181.4 at ward level, Dogarawa, 160.8 at polling unit and 332.8 at ward level. In Hanwa, 86.4 at poling unit and 254.6 at ward level. In Samaru, 160 at polling units and 160 at ward level. This has clearly shown that according to this research work, the result announced at the polling unit was correct and the election was free and fair, but at the ward level the result was invalid and the election was not free and fair. Also, during the 2012 Sabon-Gari local government election, majority of the people that registered during the registration exercise did not participate in the election, whereby 28.7% voted in the chairmanship election and 26.7% voted in the councillorship election. Finally this have shown that both the chairmanship and the councillorship election was characterized by irregularities and all sort of election malpractice. Therefore, after deep analysis of the views of the electorates of Sabon-Gari local government on the issue of factors that influences voters Behaviour, the work concludes that really there were factors that influenced voters Behaviour such:- party manifesto, financial inducement, incumbency and desire for change and many others.

FACTORS THAT INFLUECED VOTERS BEHAVIOUR IN THE 2012 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTION: A CASE STUDY OF SABON-GARI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KADUNA STATE