Psychoactive Substance Use as Correlate of Electoral Violence in Keffi Local Government Area, Nasarawa State

Abstract

This study investigated psychoactive substance use as a correlate of electoral violence in Keffi LGA of Nasarawa State Nigeria. A total of 82 substance users with experience of electoral violence were sampled for the study using a convenient sampling method. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, demographic variable of the participants indicates that 58(70.7%) are Male while 24(29.3%) are Female. Two hypotheses were tested for the study. The first hypothesis states that there will be a significant link between psychoactive substance use and electoral violence in Keffi Nasarawa State. This hypothesis was positive (r= .381, p<0.05). A second hypothesis states that there will be significant differences between men and women when it comes to electoral violence. Results show a significant difference in electoral violence between men and women t (80) =3.262, p<0.05). We therefore concluded that psychoactive substance use is significantly associated with electoral violence in Keffi LGA, Nasarawa State, with male participants more likely than female participants to be involved in electoral violence. Therefore, we recommend that governments put measures to stop the use of psychoactive substances first, in order to stop electoral violence. And the government should give these young people the opportunity to attend school and find employment or start their own business.