CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study Elections in Nigeria have always been accompanied by violence even after the return to civilian rule in 1999 that ended fifteen years of military dictatorship (International Crisis Group, 2014). Electoral violence refers to the use or threat of force against an opponent within the context of electoral competition for state power. It is bad for democratic transition and consolidation. Acts of electoral violence include murder, arson, abduction, assault, rioting, violent seizure and destruction of electoral materials, and psychological intimidation (Alemika, 2011). Elections are fundamental features of representative democracy. It is regarded as the only acceptable means of either enthroning new leadership or removing an existing one (Alao, and Nwogwugwu, 2013:120). Since 1999, elections have become more regular in Nigeria with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducting general elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 with varying degrees of credibility. Even though elections across Bayelsa are generally accompanied by violence, elections serve more purposes than simply being the means by which leaders are elected to govern the state: they are also gradually emerging as instruments of structural conflict prevention. This is why across Nigeria increasing attention is being paid to the establishment of conditions conducive to the holding of credible and peaceful elections (International IDEA, 2015: 49)

According to a statement made in a radio chat by (rear adm Yanga), Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State the smallest local government area in Bayelsa state, has been truncated by various challenges rising from; conflicts, crises, Niger-Delta militias, pre-election and post-election violence, amongst others etc. which has posed as threats to its existence and survival, thus claim that politics in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State has assumed a warfare character.

This is why there is an overwhelming need for complete and total dissemination of information to citizenry in order to achieve political education and enhance citizen’s participation in the political affairs of the Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area of Bayelsa State. Easton and Denis (cited in Okafor, et al., 2012:5) suggested that nations have to make deliberate efforts to ensure the creation of effective citizens who will in turn create a viable political system and this takes time. The ultimate purpose of citizenship education in Nigeria social curriculum is for political socialization. This work therefore is an effort to provide that alternative source of information (education) for particularly the members of Kolokuma/Opokuma local government area, and bayelsa in general. 1.2 Statement of the Problem

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