ETHNIC VOTING PATTERNS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR POLITICAL ACCOMMODATION IN NIGERIA: EVIDENCE FROM THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Okengwu Kelechi ¹ & David A. Wokocha ²

Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit, School of General Studies, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike ^{1& 2}

Corresponding Email: da.wokocha@mouau.ed.ng ²

Abstract

This paper investigates the nexus between ethnic voting patterns and political accommodation in Nigeria during the 2019 general elections. In a complex, multi-ethnic society like Nigeria much importance is attached to political power and participation in power-sharing among ethnic groups. Hence, in Nigeria, political accommodation or patronage from any government in power will reflect the ethnic groups who, through their members, supported such governments during the elections. This paper posits that political leaders in the executive and legislative arms of government must drop the concept of majority rule in Nigerian politics and govern by the precepts of grand coalition, particularly the concept of unanimity. This will achieve political accommodation within multi-ethnic Nigeria, because a broad agreement among all executive or parliamentary representatives would definitely be more democratic and positively impact a larger population much more than a simple majority rule. Finally, in order to avoid political exclusion or marginalisation, a unanimous vote in the Federal Executive Council or the National Assembly would rightly be a win for the common good of all citizens, while a majority vote would be to push one partisan or group interest as against the general good of all citizens. Irrespective of which ethnic group voted for or against the government during the elections. The paper is qualitative in nature and relied on secondary sources of data collection such as publications and articles. All data collected were subjected to textual analysis using descriptive and narrative styles.

Keywords: Ethnicity, Political Accommodation, Voting Patterns, General Elections, Political Parties, Democracy.