THE INFLUENCE OF TRADITIONAL RULERS PEACE TALK

ABSTRACT

This work assessed the influence of peace talk of traditional rulers in ensuring peaceful election during the Edo State 2020 gubernatorial election. The objectives of the study, among others, include to ascertain the role of traditional rulers in ensuring peaceful election during Edo 2020 gubernatorial election and to determine how traditional rulers are able to maintain peaceful electoral process through talk. The study was anchored on the Dialogic theory and theory of planned behaviour and reasoned action. This study employed the survey and interview research method, and information were obtained from respondents through administration of questionnaire, and data were analyzed using the simple percentage method. This study among others, found that traditional rulers played a major role through peace talk with various political actors to ensure that a peaceful election is achieved during the Edo 2020 gubernatorial election, the findings also showed that traditional rulers peace talk were adhere to by citizens strictly and 11 it was a major breakthrough to achieving violence free election across the state. It was also revealed that traditional rulers had great influence on the Edo people as their subjects sees them as the eye of the gods and the custodian of the customs and tradition. The study however recommended, among others, that government and security agencies should mete out punishment to anyone found wanting on electoral malpractices capable of creating tension in the State.