Policing Mechanisms and Electoral Violence in Nigeria

The purpose of this study was to examine the Nigerian policing mechanism and its involvement in managing electoral violence, with a specific focus on the Fourth Republic elections and their impact on national security.Highlighting the history of violence, the study attributes the failure to bring offenders to justice to inefficiencies within the current centralised, bureaucratic, and biased policing system.The study adopts functionalist and structural theories, employing a qualitative analysis methodology through interviews with 45 selected stakeholders, using a purposive non-probability sampling method.This design facilitates drawing general conclusions from diverse relevant information sources, including online materials, textbooks, newspapers, and firsthand field observations.Insights from legal, security, and political experts are also used to enrich the study.The study offers practical recommendations, such as aligning security operations with established election rules and regulations and having the leadership of security organisations organise seminars and workshops to educate personnel about electoral laws and the sanctions for non-compliance.It also advocates for comprehensive policing reforms, capacity building, increased police independence and accountability, and addressing socioeconomic disparities, among other measures.Technological innovations, such as evoting systems and international assistance, are recommended to improve the efficiency and transparency of the Independent National Electoral Commission.The study emphasises the need for police reforms, socioeconomic development, modern technology integration, and stringent anti-corruption measures to safeguard Nigeria's electoral processes.It proposes that victims of security agency misconduct should be adequately compensated to prevent the development of resentment that could threaten national security.In conclusion, implementing these recommendations will enhance policing mechanisms and combat electoral violence in Nigeria