140 ISSN 1712-8056[Print] ISSN 1923-6697[Online] www.cscanada.net www.cscanada.org Canadian Social Science Vol. 10, No. 3, 2014, pp. 140-148 DOI:10.3968/4593 Copyright © Canadian Academy of Oriental and Occidental Culture Electoral Violence and the Survival of Democracy in Nigeria’sFourth Republic: A Historical Perspective Adesola Samson Adesote [a],* ; John O. Abimbola [b] [a] Lecturer, Department of History & Diplomatic Studies, McPherson University, Seriki-Sotayo, Nigeria [b] Principal Lecturer, Department of History, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Nigeria. * Corresponding author. Received 11 January 2014; accepted 9 April 2014 Pulished online 18 April 2014 Abstract The historical trajectory of electoral process in the post colonial Nigeria is characterised by violence. In fact, recent manifestations of electoral violence, most importantly since the birth of the Fourth Republic in 1999 have assumed an unprecedented magnitude and changing form, resulting in instability in democratic consolidation as well as the loss and displacement of many innocent lives. The paper historicizes electoral violence and its implications on the survival of democracy in the Nigeria with major emphasis on the Fourth Republic. It argues that the high incidence of electoral violence (pre and post) in the Fourth Republic in particular is closely associated with neo-patrimonial character of the Nigerian state, the nature and kind of party politics being played, the weak institutionalisation of democratic architectures and inefficient electoral management body among others. It posits that these were among the factors that led to the fall or collapse of the First and Second Republics. The paper therefore submits that the survival of democracy in the Fourth Republic involves adherence to the ideals and principles of electoral process as practised in ideal democratic societies. Key words: Electoral violence; Democracy; Nigeria Adesola Samson Adesote, John O. Abimbola (2014). Electoral Violence and the Survival of Democracy in Nigeria’sFourth Republic: A Historical Perspective . Canadian Social Science , 10 (3), 140-148. Available from: http://www.cscanada.net/index.php/css/article/view/4593 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/4593 INTRODUCTION In every stable democratic society, election remains the essential ingredient of transitory process from one civilian administration to another. Elections have become an integral part of representative democracy that by and large prevails across the world. According to Lindberg (2003), every modern vision of representative democracy entails the notion of elections as the primary means of selection of political decision makers. Thus, it is incomprehensible in contemporary times to think of democracy without linking it to the idea and practice of elections. Ojo (2007), described election as the ‘hallmark of democracy’ while Chiroro (2005) sees it as the ‘heart of the democratic order’. In all, elections constitute a core component of democracy. The electoral process in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular especially since the beginning of the 21 st century is characterised by violence. It is important to emphasize here that though violence has been a long- standing feature of the democratisation process in the post colonial Nigeria, its recent manifestations especially since the birth of the Fourth Republic has assumed an unprecedented magnitude thus constituting a major threat to the survival democracy. Fundamentally, there is no doubt the fact that electoral violence remains a major source of political instability in a democratic society with palpable threats of deconsolidation. Scholars among which were Adigun Agbaje and Said Adejumobi have argued that violence has become infused in political processes in most new democracies in Africa especially with respect to the 21 st century. For instance, according to the 2008 Amnesty International Report, ‘the violent struggle for power, even in states which do not descend into armed conflict, still remains an important component of political life in Africa. Nigeria, having survived decades of military dictatorship which was characterized by despotism, violation of fundamental human rights, financial profligacy among others, eventually returned to democratic rule on