Influence of Religion in Election Violence in Nigeria

The influence of religion in most activities in Nigeria has become somewhat worrisome and disturbing, especially with its attendant negative effects that have become a recurrent issue within the Nigerian polity. Research has shown that religion has continually played a major role in determining the outcome of elections in Nigeria, with the country having two major religious groups - Islam and Christianity; and some mischievous political actors in the country have cashed in on the ideological disagreements between these two religious groups to instigate violence, especially during elections, as a means of influencing the outcome of the electoral process. The study will be examining the influence religion has in instigating election violence in Nigeria, and salient recommendations will be made to curb this menace in future elections in the country.