NIGERIAN POLITICAL PARTIES ROLE IN FOSTERING DEMOCRACY.AN ANALYSIS OF THE APC AND PDP FROM 2014 TO 2019

This study investigates the patterns of voting and the conduct of the 2015 general election in Imo State, Nigeria, with a focus on the role of ad-hoc staff, the state of electoral security, and the performance of the media. The research explores how these factors influenced voter behavior, election credibility, and democratic outcomes in the state. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected through questionnaires and oral interviews across the three senatorial zones— Owerri, Okigwe, and Orlu—with a sample size of 220 respondents. The study adopted the Marxist theory of the post-colonial state to analyze the political structure and class dominance that characterize Nigeria’s electoral process. Findings revealed that the deployment of poorly trained ad-hoc staff,inadequate security, and a compromised media environment significantly impacted the integrity of the 2015 elections. Multiple voting, voter disenfranchisement, and media bias were also identified as challenges. Despite these issues, the election was conducted and widely accepted. The study concludes that meaningful electoral reforms, improved voter education, professional media reporting, and strengthened security architecture are essential for enhancing the credibility of elections and deepening democracy in Imo State and Nigeria at large.