Securitization of Elections in Nigeria: An Expose’ of the Illocutionary Rhetoric

Abstract

Elections are critical requirements for the legitimization of political power through a non-violent competition for popular vote. In many developing countries like Nigeria however, the electoral process tends to be exposed to violence and security threats which are not just structural; but also of an illocutionary character. Indeed, beyond structural deficits, campaign rhetoric has also played a major role in the securitization of elections in Nigeria. Using secondary data on recently conducted elections and within the general framework of the securitization theory, this paper demonstrates how the “illocutionary rhetoric”adopted by the dominant political elite for campaign purposes creates the violence and threats associated with Nigeria’s electoral process.