Election malpractice in students union government of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka: Causes, consequences and preventive measures

Abstract

The study investigated the causes, consequences and preventive measures of election malpractice in student’s union government of Nnmadi Azikiwe University Awka. Three research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The sample comprised 700 undergraduate students. The instrument used in collecting data was the questionnaire titled Causes, Consequence and Preventive Measure of Election Malpractice (CCPEMEM) Data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Results showed that the major causes of election malpractice amongst others are the desire to gain undue advantage over credible candidates, absence of correct and genuine data, corruption within the security forces and the electoral body. Results also showed the consequences of election malpractice to include amongst others, electoral violence, emergence of shameless and incompetent leaders, lack of transparency and unpopular government. Results also showed the preventive measures of election malpractices to include amongst others that votes should not be bought with money or gift items; the electoral body should be well trained and continued to be trained and materials for elections must be adequate and distributed on time. The implications of the study are that the perpetrators of this election malpractice are our future leaders and If this act is not checked and controlled, they move into the society with the same act and this will mar the development of the society. It was therefore recommended among others that miscreants should not be allowed to contest election. The electoral body should be adequately funded to enable it discharge its responsibilities.