ABSTRACT

This study examines Election and Democracy in Benue State with reference to Logo Local Government Area. This study utilized both primary and secondary sources of data and also adopted Elite theory as its framework of analysis. The findings from this work revealed that,   Political parties in Nigeria continue to undermine democratic system through unwholesome/sharp practices like electoral fraud, malpractices, electoral violence/crises among others. Again, lack of electoral discipline is a serious problem plaguing the democratic process in Nigeria. The study recommends that, there is need to empower the youths so as to make them acquire tangible means of livelihood and hence refrain from thuggery activities as means of livelihood. More so, the ruling party should learn to tolerate the opposition parties and should respect the power of the ballot boxes which decides the fate of any political party that will form the government.

 TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page

Title page                                                    i

Certification ii

Approval page iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements vi

Table of content vii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study .................................................................................1

1.2 Statement of the Problem …………………………………………………2

1.3 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................3

1.4 Research Questions……………………………………………………….4

1.5 Significance of the Study…………………………………………………4

1.6  Scope of the Study………………………………………………………….5

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1 Concept of Election………………………………………………………6

2.2 The Concept of Democracy………………………………………………9

2.3 Forms/Types of Democracy ………………………………………… …...14

2.4 Election and Democracy in Nigeria………………………………….. …...16

2.5 Problems with Elections in Nigeria…………………………………. …...21

2.6 Political Parties and Election in Democratic Governance…………… …...25

2.7 Elections, Electoral Process and the Challenges of Democratization 

in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic………………………………………… …. 29

2.8 Theoretical Framework………………………………………………. …..36

CHAPTER THREE: OVERVIEW OF LOGO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

3.1 Evolution of Logo Local Government ……………………………… …..39

3.2 Economic Profile …………………………………………………………40

3.3 Political Profile…………………………………………………………….41

3.4 Research Methodology …………………………………………………..42

3.5 Research Design…………………………………………………………..43

3.6 Population of the Study……………………………………………….....43

3.7 Sample Size/Sampling Technique………………………………………..44

3.8 Sources of Data……………………………………………………….…44

 3.9 Instrument of Data Collection …………………………………………..44

 3.9.1 Data Analysis Techniques……………………………………………….45

 3.9.2 Limitation of the Methodology…………………………………….…….45

3.9.3 Political parties and the 2015 election in Logo Local Government ..…..45

CHAPTER FOUR: ELECTORAL CRISIS AND THE 2011 ELECTION IN BENUE STATE

4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………….48

4.2 Demographic Variables of Respondents ……………………………… ……48

4.3       Data Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis………………………….....50

4.4 Discussion of findings……………………………………………………58

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

5.1 Summary………………………………………………………………...... 61

5.2 Conclusion………………………………………………………………… 62

5.3 Recommendations………………………………………………………….63

References………………………………………………………………….64

Appendixes……………………………………………………………....... 66