Security Implications of Political Thuggery in Nigeria: A Study of Rivers State from 2015-2019 Elections

Abstract

This paper discusses the ugly phenomenon of thuggery in the body politics of Nigeria.
It examines the reasons for the prevalent incidences of political thuggery, particularly
during campaigns, general elections and even re-run elections in Rivers State. The
paper identifies such reasons as unemployment among youths and its attendant
poverty and frustration which makes youths willing tools for thuggery in the hands
of desperate politicians; and the negative impact of money politics in the country’s
democratization process. The data collection and analysis is based on a field survey in
Port Harcourt using questionnaire and descriptive analysis respectively. The study adopts
the Marxist perspective of Conflict Theory as the tool of analysis to explain the act of
political thuggery by unemployed youths and their recruitment by desperate
politicians to serve their selfish interest of maintaining and controlling political
power and economic resources. The findings revealed that thuggery created fear
among candidates which hindered the electorates’ political participation, peaceful
and fair elections, and stable democratic transitions.