Arms Proliferation and Electoral Violence in West African sub-region: A Study of 2019 General Elections in Nigeria

Some of the fundamental obstacles to peace and security in West African sub-region today are elections and proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW). The proliferation of small arms constitutes a major source of disruptions to our democracy and elections and outcome of elections. This has led to destruction of lives and properties and exacerbates inter-communal tensions leading to loss of confidence in our electoral system. The main aim of the study is to provide an analysis of 2019 general elections in Nigeria with the attendant electoral violence occasioned by arms proliferation. The study also aimed at identifying the root causes of electoral violence and arms proliferation and its implications to political development of the sub-region. The research design is descriptive and the framework of analysis adopted is Frustration-Aggression Theory and the qualitative research method. Secondary sources of data are used for the study. Some of the causes of electoral violence and arms proliferation in West Africa include, the borders of West African countries are porous, thus, making it easy for entry and exit of arms, conflicts, rising rates of unemployment, struggle for power and more so, the high level of corruption in West African countries. Also the implications include ethnic conflicts, corruption, lack of confidence and culture of violence and impunity in our electoral system etc. ECOWAS should as matter of urgency start addressing the causes of electoral violence and arms proliferation, government of the sub-region should avoid corruption and provide jobs to the teeming youth of the sub-region who are unemployed.