WILBERFORCE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (WJSS)
ISSN: 2504 – 9232
Volume 5, No. 1, March 2020
Pages 63-89
DOI: 10.36108/wjss/0202.50.0140
THE ROLE OF ELECTORAL PROPHECY, COURT JUDGEMENTS AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE IMO STATE EXPERIENCE
AFAMEFUNE PATRICK IKEM AND CHUKWUEMEKA ENYIAZU
Abstract
Predictions of who wins an election have become a recurring phenomenon in Nigeria since this present democratic era. The 2019 elections in Nigeria saw prominent religious leaders or spiritualists reel out prophecies of eventual winners or losers in a practice that is fast becoming entrenched. Using the case of Imo State, this paper argues that electoral related prophecies pose a security threat, which if not dealt with may ignite crisis and endanger the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria. Methodologically, the documentary method is used to source for data and desk review serves as the tool of analysis. Also, the paper is situated within the theoretical framework of spiritual dimension of human and national security, which takes into cognizance the peculiarity of Nigeria’s security threats rooted in spiritual related utterances among others. Hence, the paper recommends that religious leaders should apply caution so as to determine the kind of prophecy to make public in order to avoid precipitating crisis.
Keywords: Prophecies, Elections, Democratic Consolidation, National Security, Polls