CAMPAIGN PROMISES AND POLITICAL APATHY

ABSTRACT

The study examined Campaign Promises and Political Apathy: A Case Study of Buhari Administration (2015-2021). The objective of the study was to establish any possible relationship between failed campaign promises and political apathy in order to determine the reasons for low voters' turnout for public elections in Nigeria. The study used historical and descriptive research as method of the study. The study made use of secondary data such as books, journal articles, magazines/newspapers and the Internet. Data collected were analyzed using the content analytical method and in the end it was revealed failed campaigns promises during elections cause political apathy and also insecurity, as part of failed campaign promises, tends to cause political apathy among citizens. The study adopted Rational Choice Theory as framework whose main crux is that human beings will always make a decision that maximizes their satisfaction and reduce loss. The thrust of the theory is centered on the reality that the aggregate behaviour in the society is a reflection of individual choice made to reflect their preferences. The findings of the study revealed that the problem of political apathy is that politicians tend to make many unfulfilled campaign promises during elections and then fail to fulfill those promises when they are elected. Also, insecurity plays a part in causing political apathy as most citizens lose interest in political participation due to security issues. The study concluded that major factors responsible for low political participation and low voter turnout in the 2019 presidential election include failure of political office holders to fulfill campaign promises they made prior to election, long queues before voting and lack of confidence in electoral body to conduct free, fair and credible elections and violence during elections were the major factors responsible for low voter turnout in the 2019 presidential election in Nigeria. The study recommended that elected political leaders should always fulfill their campaign promises which they made to the people during campaigns.

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