Analyzing the Problem of Electoral Violence in Nigeria

The paper analyzes the trend and nature of electoral violence in Nigeria. It places electoral violence in the context of Merton’s strain theory, Vold’s conflict theory and Hirschi’s social control theory in order to determine the reasons that motivate actors in electoral violence in the country. Finally, the paper concludes that the cycle of electoral violence in the country can be broken if the actors involved in the violence are brought to justice. To buttress this point, the paper appeals to utilitarian-deterrence theory.