SOCIOECONOMIC CUM POLITICAL IMPACT OF ETHNIC CLEAVAGES AND VOTERS' SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is a pluralistic society with various ethnic and religious groups competing not just for political resources, but also for the right to assert their individual identities. This dynamic frequently plunges the country into an apparent insurmountable political quagmire, endangering the collective survival of its various groups and fueling their struggle for political dominance. In this context, the study looks at how ethnic cleavages affect voters' support for presidential candidates in Nigeria's 2023 general elections. The study employs a documentary methodology, with data mostly acquired from secondary sources and examined for substantive content. Social Identity Theory provides a theoretical framework for a thorough evaluation of the subject matter. The study finds that the bloc votes received by candidates from their respective geopolitical zones were significantly influenced by voters’ identification with specific ethnic or religious affiliations. Based on these findings, the paper makes several recommendations, including the need for political leaders to prioritize nation-building. Most importantly, national interest should take precedence over personal ambition and ethnic chauvinism.