THE QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL THREAT AND VOTING INSECURITY IN LAGOS; SUBMISSION OF IGBO TRADERS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

One of the greatest historical and constitutional rights of the state and its agents is to ensure security to lives and properties and equally maintain laws and orderliness. This remains one of the fundamental postulations of Western scholars on human rights which is anchored on freedom to vote and to be voted for during election. The 2023 Governorship election is subjectively interpreted by various ethnic groups and the place of BVAS electronic machine could be subjected to different scrutiny leading to ethnic war or rivalries, psychological trauma, burning of goods and building worth of millions, civil unrest, physical injury and sudden death, lack of trust in government, bad national and international images. The study adopted reviews of national and international journals to include articles, textbooks, and newspapers among others with the use of instinctual drives theory for the justification of the inquiry. The research adopted qualitative method of data collection with semi-structured questionnaire for the study. Purposive sampling technique (non-probability) and in-depth interviews were conducted among 50 Igbo traders in four market zones in Lagos namely Lagos Island market (Idumota) Ladipo International market (Mushin), Alaba International Market (Ojo) and Computer Village (Ikeja). The finding deciphers that Nigeria just operate at ethnic level but claiming for nationality is abstraction. Furthermore, the 2023 governorship election depicts absolute lack of voting rights compare to what is obtainable during Presidential election in 2023. Therefore, it is recommended for Nigerians to enjoy unity there must be change in the policy of state of origin to place of birth for social and universal acceptance,  Keywords- Political, Threat, Election, Voting, Insecurity, Development