1.1 Introduction
Political apathy is the deficiency of love and devotion to a state. It is the indifference on the part of citizens of any state as regards their attitudes towards political activities such as elections, public opinions, and civic responsibilities. Political apathy is therefore absence of interest in, or concern about, socio-political life. Thus, an apathetic person lacks interest in the social and political affairs of his country. Political apathy has manifested itself in Nigeria, in the following forms: one, the decline to register as a voter; two, the refusal to vote; three, failure to protest against rigging and four, failure to assist the security agents with useful information (Yakubu, 2012).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Political apathy is a seemingly innocuous issue in the democratic process of Nigeria. Nigerian political parties are also ostensibly playing critical democratic roles in the contemporary political process of Nigeria. But the political parties also behave as if the problem of political apathy is non-existent in the political process. Ugwu (2007) argues that in most developing countries of which Nigeria is one, participation in political activities by the citizens, is more or less an ordeal. This of course leads to political apathy. But the country’s democratic process trudges on as if all is well with the political and democratic systems in the country. However, it is this apparent case of denial that makes the germane issues to be more challenging. The general objective of this study therefore is to examine the surrounding issues on political parties, political apathy and democracy in Nigeria.
From 1994 and 1999 when the new wave of democracy started in South-Africa and Nigeria respectively, political observers have noticed a steady decline in citizens’ participation in the political and electoral processes in these countries. In South-Africa, when the former social system that discriminated against the black (Non-European groups) in political and social rights for reasons of race and skin colour (Apartheid) ended in 1994 with the election of a democratically elected president of Negroe extraction, Nelson Mandela, it was difficult, according to Morais (2019), to gauge the turnout of voters (measure political apathy), as millions of eligible black South-Africans, voting for the first time, were not made to register to cast their ballots. The percentage of voter turnout was difficult to determine in the 1994 national elections in South-Africa. Nevertheless, there was increased enthusiasm for political participation.
At the dawn of the Fourth Republic in Nigeria in 1999, 58 million registered to vote in the general elections. However, only 30 million voted. This represented 52% of voter turnout in the election (Ebenezer: 2018, P.68). The 1999 elections in South-Africa faired better with 18 million registered to vote and 16 million voted in the elections. This represented 89% of voter turnout. This was also similar to the increased political participation recorded in Nigeria in 2003, where 42 million of registered voters of 60 million, voted, representing 70% of voter turnout (Ebenezer, 2018; Morais, 2019). There was however a decline in voter participation in the electoral process in South-Africa in the 2004 national elections, as 16 million of 21million of registered voters, voted in the elections. This represented 77% voter turnout and decline of 12% turnout rate from the previous elections in 1999.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Politics of Campaign Promises and Political Apathy in Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that political apathy is a seemingly innocuous issue in the democratic process of Nigeria. Nigerian political parties are also ostensibly playing critical democratic roles in the contemporary political process of Nigeria. But the political parties also behave as if the problem of political apathy is non-existent in the political process.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Politics of Campaign Promises and Political Apathy in Nigeria using APC 2015 - 2019 Presidential Elections as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the extent to which the performance of Nigeria’s current political parties have encouraged political apathy in the Nigerian democratic process,
- To investigate the political campaign promises made by APC government between 2015 - 2019 has been met,
- To investigate the causes of political apathy in a democratic System,
- To identify the contending issues on political parties, political apathy and democracy in Nigeria, and
- To make recommendations on the way forward of the above stated problems.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is Political Apathy?
- Has the political campaign promises made by APC government between 2015 - 2019 been achieved?
- What are the causes of Political Apathy in a Political/Democratic System?
- To what extent does the performance of Nigeria’s current political parties have encouraged political apathy in the Nigerian democratic process?
- What are the contending issues on political parties, political apathy and democracy encountered in Nigeria APC government between 2015 - 2019?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
- H0: Political campaign promises between 2015 - 2019 has not been met by the APC government
- H1: Political campaign promises between 2015 - 2019 has been met by the APC government
1.7 Significance of Study
The premise of the study is that the concepts of political apathy and voting behavior can contribute to theories of democratization and suggest ways in which a synthesis of the concepts could increase our understanding of the process of democratic consolidation with particular reference to Africa. Knowing the initial support regimes have at inception, they can work to increase popular participation for further legitimacy.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The study focuses on the Politics of Campaign Promises and Political Apathy in Nigeria using APC (All Progressive Congress) 2015 - 2019 Presidential Elections as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Election: is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office.
Voter Turnout: is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election. (Who is eligible varies by country, and should not be confused with the total adult population. For example, some countries discriminate based on sex, race, and/or religion. Age and citizenship are usually among the criteria).
