Keywords: Existing Statistics, Political Assumptions, Presidential Elections, Social Science Research, Voting Behaviour

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to examine issues in voting behaviour of Nigerians. The aim and objectives are verification, exposition of trends and relationship to presumed “Political Assumptions” in our polity. The theoretical foundation were Structural-functional, Games and class theories, which provide explanations for the “Political Assumption”, the electorates and effect on electoral success. The apparatus of existing statistics, evaluating some assumptions in Nigeria politics was our guide. This research was conducted between January 2020 and July 2021. The presidential elections of 1979, 1983, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 were our focus. It used unobtrusive methodological analysis of existing statistics from these presidential elections listed above. This article empirically examines, using the extended in-depth presidential election data of these years and survey method to show the relationship between voting pattern, voters’ turnout and two party system, rotation of the presidency, alternation of parties in government, minority votes and election results, etc. The central findings are that most assumptions in Nigerian government or politics do not find acceptance within the context of voting patterns, and voter’s behaviour. It recommends that parties should alternate in government based on two major Political Parties, which also makes the country to be ripe for two party system. Furthermore, it is believed that “rotational Presidency” clause should be enacted in the constitution for equal representation and sense of belonging by all federating units etc.

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Published: 2025

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