VOTE-BUYING IN NIGERIAN ELECTORAL PROCESS: EVIDENCE FROM SELECTED MEDIA OUTLETS

Despite the 2019 Electoral Act criminalizing the offering and acceptance of money during elections, vote-buying remains a serious problem in the Nigerian political process. Additionally, the media can be seen as an effective means of bringing this unlawful act to public awareness and enlightenment. Therefore, this study sought to investigate emerging themes related to vote-buying incidents reported in Nigerian media outlets. The study employed a qualitative method in which data were gathered from 11 Nigerian newspapers and subjected to content analysis. The findings revealed vote-buying as a long-standing challenge to democratic development, where political aspirants utilize monetary inducements to secure electoral victories. Another emerging theme is the opportunistic behavior of delegates during primaries. Party delegates are portrayed as individuals possessing the strategic importance and ability to extract financial benefits from aspirants. The findings also highlight that vote-buying tends to deteriorate electoral integrity in the country. Despite these challenges, there are indications of resistance and efforts to counteract vote-buying. This research calls for a strict application of the Electoral Act and the development of preventive measures that can contribute to a more functional democratic process in the country. The study is envisaged to offer valuable information that can help policymakers and relevant authorities refine strategies against vote-buying.