Democratic Ethos: The Bane of Communal Conflicts in Nigeria

Previous studies have established traditional causes of communal conflicts. Conversely, this study established a link between democratic processes and communal conflicts in Nigeria. Through a three-component model focusing on various democratic processes, several democratic flaws were identified as root causes of communal conflicts. Specifically, we found a misalignment of democratic equity principles among warring communities, which surfaced because of differences in community hierarchies, structures, and personalities. A biased distribution of democratic dividends, unequal access to competent electoral staff, and extreme bias towards opposing communities in electoral/political institutions were observed. Moreover, some aggressive-frustrated residents were easily provoked because of a lack of confidence in democratic institutions and processes. It is therefore essential to focus on fairness in democratic processes to reduce tension in areas of communal conflict.