1.0 Chapter one

Introduction

1.1  Background to the study

According to Alao (2019) Ethnicity and religion are like Siamese twins in Nigeria and Nigerian politics; their effect is most apparent at times of competition for resources, particularly during elections. Indeed, ethnicity and religion account for the majority of the nation's numerous fault lines. It's interesting that they seem to share a nearly identical geographic limit, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that they frequently overlap. For example, there have been ethnic eruptions in response to various theological difficulties, and vice versa. This emphasizes how deeply ingrained ethnic and religious factors have become in politics and policy, to the point where all legitimate government policies or projects are viewed via these prisms. Islam arrived in the North, where the Hausa ethnic group predominated, while Christianity spread throughout the South, which were mostly home to Igbo people. Both announced their arrival in the West, which was primarily populated by Yorubas, nearly simultaneously; as a result, the nation had an ethnic and religious identity. That is, the nation's borders are basically where ethnic and religious groups meet. Because of this, it is very impossible to separate an ethnic group from the predominant religion in a given area, particularly in areas where one religion is predominate, like the North and South (including the East) of the nation.

One of the most important institutions of liberal and participative democracy is the holding of regular, fair, and free elections. The democratic process of selecting a new leader for a group, society, or state takes place during elections. Elections, a vital component of democracy, can take on several forms based on what the relevant polity determines is suitable for usage  (Eteng 2018). However, Ujo (2008) draws a contrast between voting and elections. According to him, the term "election" is broad and encompasses a variety of actions that take place prior to, during, and following voting. Planning, voter registration, constituency delimitation, station organisation, voting process, vote counting, and results announcement are some of these operations. But voting is the actual mechanism by which each person selects from a range of options. The degree to which elections support the growth and survival of democracies, especially in those that are young and developing, mostly depends on the variables influencing the electorate's decision-making. Research has been done to demonstrate how ethnic structure and voting choice interact (Alao 2019). These studies illustrate that election results in African countries typically follow ethnic lines, as elites in the continent frequently use ethnic divisions to win elections. Nigeria is without a doubt one of the world's most diverse nations. With more than 250 million people living there (Eteng 2018),

Nigeria is the most populous country of African descent, home to more than 250 ethnic groups and several subgroups. Despite these traits, the Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo ethnic groups dominate the political landscape of the nation. Although they exist, other subgroups are viewed as minorities. The fear of minority groups becoming dominated by big ethnic groups is increased by the existence of subgroups within the larger, dominating groups. As a result, these ethnic groups and subgroups play politics in a way that either upholds the dominance of the majority groups or thwarts and resists the domination of the minority groups. Tensions, fears, and controversies surrounded the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria, especially among the public. This is related to the fact that hate speech during election seasons is common and typically has an ethnic undertone. Specifically, there was a great deal of tension and controversy surrounding the Nigerian presidential election of 2023. In addition to taking place at a period of insecurity that was mostly controlled by the Boko Haram sect, the 2023 general elections have been hailed as the most competitive to take place in Nigeria since the country's independence also it was seen as the most religious and ethnic voting pattern in the history of Nigeira.. It was said that tensions between the north and the south had been rising before the elections. This was ascribed to what the northerners viewed as a fantastic chance to retain the presidency, which would, in their view, undo the region's perceived economic marginalization and help them be political relevant All these factors aggravated the t ethnic, regional and religious cleavages which have characterized. It is to this the study centres on  

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

Every society's politics and other facets are greatly influenced by ethnicity as a determining factor which can be traced to the just concluded 2023 elections in Nigeria . Political elites  in the last election frequently use ethnicity in Nigerian politics to further their goals, which has hampered the country's voting pattern and behavior.  In the  2023 elections The North and South's fight for power was fueled by  politicians in the major political parties in Nigeria(Anifowose, 2011).

furthermore, Nigeria has seen ethnic conflict ever since it gained its independence. Nevertheless, Elections at the national  and local level were severely polarised along regional and ethnic fault lines, which slowed down any socio-political initiatives to advance the country. Leading ethnic groups had become parochial in their development efforts due to fundamental disparities in values, which had harmed the entire country (Odeyemi, 2014).

As observed by Umezinwa (2013) In the last elections of 2023 Nigeria is unable to generate the appropriate leaders who live honourably, exude flawless character, and are willing to sacrifice for the country's growth due to the intensity of its interethnic conflict. These leaders have not been able to emerge because of ethnicity. Every election, the focus has been on the candidates' ethnic backgrounds rather than whether they are the best candidates for the job.

 This explains why there are so many persons in the National Assembly who are not representing the interests of the country or of their own ethnic communities. The fundamental relevance of identity in Nigerian politics resides in the fact that it has an impact on global affairs and international relations on a spectrum ranging from conflict to collaboration.

The causes and motivators for the rise of ethnic politics include long-standing conflicts for recognition and control of resources and power, unrecognised historical grievances, unresolved land disputes, inherent biological prejudices, religious passion, and unexpected memory lapses (Barbero, 2016).. Based on the above and as far as this research is concerned, no study has talked about ethnicity and religion as potent contributor to 2023 elections in Nigeria. This gap in research is what this study intends to fill.

1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY

The major purpose of this study is to Examine Impact of Ethnicity and Religion on Political Behavior In the 2023 Nigeria General Elections. Other general objectives of the study are:

1 To examine the impact of ethnicity on the voting behavior of electorates in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria

2 To ascertain the impact of  religion factors on the voting behavior of electorates in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria

3 To outline the consequences of ethnicity towards socio political development in Nigeria

4 To recommend ways of curbing the problems and issues of  voting towards ethinic and religious lines in Nigerian elections 

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1 What is the impact of ethnicity on the voting behavior of electorates in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria

2 What is the impact of  religion factors on the voting behavior of electorates in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria?

3 What are the consequences of ethnicity towards socio political development in Nigeria?

4 what are the ways of curbing the problems and issues of  voting towards ethinic and religious lines in Nigerian elections?

1.5 HYPOTHESES

HO1: there is no significant impact of Ethnicity on political behavior of electorates in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria

HO2: there is no significant impact of religion on political behavior of electorates in the 2023 general electuins in Nigeria

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The issue of politics and ethnic conflict has been a major obstacle to the 2023 elections.  As our problem of statement has emphasized there is urgently of the need to address the issue of ethnicity and religion to avert further disaster. The relevance of this work is that it unveils the implication of class struggle in fermentation ethnic conflict should start seeing themselves as one indivisible nation that should be fighting for development of the ruling class in fighting for development of the ruling class in causing confusion in the nation.  This work will also contributes to the various writings e,g journals and textbooks that have been highlighting on the dangers of ethnic crisis and how to handle it finally, it will help policy makers in the country and the world over to know the root cause of ethnic conflict, so as to explore strategies by which the negative effects of ethnicity could be mitigated in the future. Thus making lasting policies that will obliterate ethnic chauvinism and its consequent effect on elections. Thus this study will help the Nigerian government and students in further research

1.7    SCOPE OF THE STUDY 

The study is based on The Impact Of Ethnicity And Religion On Political Behavior In The 2023 Nigeria General Elections.

1.8 LIMITATION OF STUDY                         

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Ethnicity: is a shared cultural heritage. People define themselves or others as members of an ethnic category based on having common ancestors, language, or religion that confers a distinctive social identity.

Religion: Religion is a range of social-cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements although there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion.,Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine  sacredness faith and a supernatural being or beings