A CRITICAL INVESTIGATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ AWARENESS ON THE ELECTORAL PROCESS IN NIGERIA

Background of the study: The phrase "knowledge is power" is not an exaggeration. The majority of participants' lack of comprehension of the process is one of the biggest challenges influencing the election process, as well as almost every other procedure in Nigeria and other developing countries. The most significant impediment to the nascent democracy is the pervasive state of ill-prepared voters' education and insecurity of lives and property, as evidenced by a spate of armed robbery attacks, political opponent assassinations, ill-prepared voters' education for the upcoming elections in Nigeria, electoral fraud, and the apparent helplessness of a government in power for a long time. The problem is compounded by the increasing number of unemployed Nigerians, some of whom are good candidates for criminal behavior. When all of the factors that should be present, such as voter education, are either unavailable or insignificant for long-term political evolution in Nigeria, the democratic experience in Nigeria over the last decade cannot be considered excellent when compared to Ghana (Uhunmwuangho & Aibieyi, 2017).

Raising awareness is a critical means of spreading knowledge. The majority of people in developing countries, like Nigeria, are uninformed of the complexities of the electoral process. It is vital that the general public understands that the electoral process comprises more than just voting. The ability to vote correctly is determined by one's awareness of all other crucial events in the election process. Proper knowledge also promotes active involvement and a sense of citizenship among the general people, both of which are vital to the development of any expanding country (Weldeab, 2010 cited in Uhunmwuangho & Aibieyi, 2017).

The significance of voter education in the political processes of any country, developed or developing, cannot be understated. Voter education must begin as soon as feasible in order for an election to be successful. Voter education is designed to ensure that voters in any country are ready, willing, and able to participate in the political process. This involves electoral literacy, instructional activities, and the conviction that the political process is legitimate and effective in selecting its own politicians. As a result, it is vital to say that voters have faith in the election process when they are adequately taught about the processes, which would be made simpler if this sensitization began in secondary school, knowing that these kids will be prospective voters when they become eighteen. This is due to the importance of this understanding in moulding their political conduct and supplying them with critical information about the country's electoral process.