Security Agencies in the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis of Their Roles, Activities and Achievements during 2015 And 2019 Elections.

Abstract

Politics is the struggle for power, influence and authority. Since it involves allocation of resources of a state it is often viewed as warfare between contestants with security implications. One of the determinants of free, fair and credible election is the security of lives and properly before, during and after the electioneering process. Security is the freedom from danger or damage, be it physical or emotional, it is important in the electoral process. Election in Nigeria has never been a smooth journey from the inception of Nigeria as a sovereign state. Security during election has remain a challenge to election umpires and the citizens as political parties and their supporters see the election process as a ‘’Do Or Die’’ Affairs. The 2023, 2019 , 2015 general elections were not an exception as some of the elections were characterized by reports of violence and security breaches despite the independent National Election Commission’s preparation for a smooth elections. This paper takes a look at the security Agencies in the 2023 general election comparing their roles, numbers, activities and achievements during the 2015 and 2019 Elections.