Interparty Conflicts and Voter Suppression in Ebonyi State: Evidence from the 2023 General Elections

This study examines the dynamics of interparty conflicts and voter suppression in Ebonyi State during the 2023 general elections. Ebonyi State has been characterised by intense political competition and episodes of election-related violence that have systematically suppressed voter participation, particularly among opposition supporters. The study is anchored on the Electoral Authoritarianism Theory as articulated by Andreas Schedler, which analyses how incumbent political actors deploy coercive and manipulative strategies to constrain genuine democratic competition. A descriptive survey design was employed. The population comprised voters, domestic election observers, INEC officials, journalists, and police officers who were present or actively involved in the 2023 elections in Ebonyi State. A sample of 290 respondents was drawn through purposive and random sampling from five local government areas with the highest reported incidences of electoral violence. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that interparty conflicts during the 2023 elections in Ebonyi State resulted in the displacement of voters from polling units in at least eleven documented incidents across Abakaliki, Afikpo, and Ohaozara local government areas. The study finds that armed political groups linked to the ruling party were implicated in the majority of voter suppression incidents, significantly affecting the competitiveness of legislative elections. It is concluded that interparty violence and voter suppression fundamentally compromised electoral integrity in Ebonyi State during the 2023 cycle. The study recommends independent security command for elections, prosecution of violence perpetrators, and strengthened observer accreditation.

Keywords: Interparty conflict, voter suppression, Ebonyi State, 2023 elections, electoral authoritarianism