Corruption, Public Trust, and Democratic Legitimacy in South East Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

This study empirically investigates the relationship between perceptions of public sector corruption, public trust in government institutions, and democratic legitimacy in South East Nigeria, encompassing Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi States. While theoretical linkages between corruption and democratic erosion are well established in the global literature, empirical studies focusing on South East Nigeria's distinctive political economy remain sparse. A cross-sectional survey design is employed, with a stratified random sample of 520 adult respondents drawn across the five states. Data are analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to test a causal path model linking corruption perceptions, institutional trust, government legitimacy, and electoral participation. The Legitimacy Theory of Democracy and the Social Capital Framework by Putnam jointly provide the theoretical underpinning. Findings reveal that corruption perceptions exert a strong direct negative effect on trust in state governments, anti-corruption agencies, and the judiciary, and an indirect negative effect on electoral participation through reduced government legitimacy. The study further finds that personal experiences of corruption, particularly bribery during contact with public officials, have a stronger effect on trust erosion than media exposure to corruption news. Anti-corruption institutional effectiveness moderates the corruption-trust relationship, suggesting that credible anti-corruption efforts can partially recover public trust. Recommendations focus on rebuilding legitimacy through transparent public accountability mechanisms and meaningful civic engagement. Keywords: corruption, public trust, democratic legitimacy, South East Nigeria, electoral participation.