POLITICAL PARTICIPATION AND ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR IN AKWA IBOM STATE

This study focuses attention on Political Participation and Electoral Behaviour in Akwa Ibom State: A case study of Card Reader in Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom State. It also examined the effect of card reader for achievement of high level of political participation. It also entails the effective used of card readers for the attainment of successful, free, fair and credible election in Akwa Ibom State. The objective of this work were to examine effect of card reader on the election credibility, to ascertain the level of political education for the attainment of election, to examine the level of transparency and credibility of 2015 election, to investigate the problems inhibiting the success of political participation, the hypothesis are there is no significant relationship between card reader and 2015 general election credibility and the extent of political participation of the people in electoral politics is related to their political education. The methodology of this work was survey design with questionnaire as the chief instrument use for collecting data. Out of the total of two hundred and thirty seven (237) samples was drawn and questionnaire administered of which one hundred and twenty five (125) were returned and analysis is based is based on the returned rate. Table and percentage (%) were used for data analysis and chi-square was used as statistical instrument to test hypothesis. The findings revealed that, election in Akwa Ibom State have been characterized with rigging, violence, snatching of ballot boxes and other irregularities. It is recommended that there is urgent need for political education in boy formal and informal to orientate the citizens for active participation in the political system also; independent electoral commission should put machinery in place that should ensure mass participation of electorate during election. By so doing it would increase mass participation of electorate in election. And it would also mobilized for free, fair and credible election in Akwa Ibom State.