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Journal VOL. 2 NO. 1, June. 2021, ISSN: 2714 - 4054

 

The Dynamics of Africa's Cultural Affinity and the Global Electoral Outcomes: Evidence from Ekiti State of Nigeria

Aladegbola Isaac Adegbenga

 

ABSTRACT

Are politicians only rewarded by voters for distributive allocations? Are patterns of voting always a function and reflection of how goods are distributed? The patterns that have emerged on the electoral politics of Ekiti State of Nigeria since it was created in 1996 and the event of June 21st 2014 gubernatorial election and the outcome of 2015 general elections in the state has challenged the “common position within the political accountability framework that examined whether political incumbents are always rewarded by voters in return for distributive allocations”. Employing empirical research method, this study interrogates the unexpected electoral outcome of the 2014 and 2015 elections in Ekiti State and considered the trends of Ekiti elections from 1999 to 2018 covering the Fourth Republic. Tracing the relationship between identity and distributive politics, the study finds that cultural affinity and state homogeneity are additional relevant factors which shape electoral outcomes in Africa beyond the explored distributive goods and distributive politics that generally shapes global electoral outcomes.

 

Keywords: Cultural Affinity, Homogeneity, Electoral outcome, Democratic Accountability, Distributive politics, Nigeria

 

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