ABSTRACT
Since winning independence in 1960, Nigeria has strived to maintain the democracy that has been so hard won. Elections held in the country have repeatedly been marred by irregularities and previously unheard-of electoral violence since the post-colonial era, severely restricting our democratic experiments and, in the worst cases, jeopardizing the country's ability to function as a nation. Political upheaval in Nigeria has been a major hindrance to the stability of the democratic system. In light of the aforementioned environment, the goal of this research project is to examine political violence and the future of Nigerian democracy from 2010 to 2020. The upkeep of Nigeria's democracy is necessary for its survival, although numerous issues remain unresolved as a result of the kind and extent of political violence between 2015 and 2019. In order to strengthen our democratic process, this research looks at the causes of political violence, its threat to our system of government, and potential solutions. This study's methodology, which was qualitative, involved the utilization of secondary data from scholarly publications, journals, newspapers, the internet, text books, and other sources related to political violence and Nigeria's future as a democratic nation. As a result, in my opinion, political violence has impacted democratic principles such as respect for the law, an independent and trustworthy election system, and national quest for stable democratic transition. It is recommended there should be values orientation and attitudinal change by Nigerians.
