TY  - JOUR
T1  - Democracy, Civil Society and Mass Action in Nigeria: A Case of Imo State General Elections 2011
AU - Amadi, Luke Azubuike 
JO  - Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences
VL  - 9
IS  - 1
SP  - 9
EP  - 22
PY  - 2012
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1683-8831
DO  - pjssci.2012.9.22
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=pjssci.2012.9.22
KW  - Civil society
KW  -democracy
KW  -mass action
KW  -election
KW  -political participation
KW  -governance
KW  -Imo State
KW  -Nigeria
AB  - Civil society involvement in governance and decision making processes in Nigeria’s nascent democracy has been minimal. However, the voting pattern and behavior of the civil society groups in Imo State South Eastern Nigeria in the 2011 general elections, provides an evaluation of mass action. This was phenomenal in historic and comparative terms as it was triggered by the abuse of political power by the state government in the period 2007-2010. The situation was the nexus of a near anarchy, oppression, poverty and inequality. Its crescendo was replicated in the arbitrary increase in students school fees, fall of ethical standards in governance, physical assault, arrogance, abusive language, violation of human rights, absence of security of lives and property, high cost of living, deprivation, non accountability and zero sum politics which had an obvious implication for mass poverty and elite domination. The state largely operated on one form of informal social relationship or linkage rather than a society of citizens. Only a credible election could avail the civil society the opportunity to exercise their civic rights and effect a change of government. This study seeks to examine the mass action by the civil society (formal and non formal) groups in Imo State in the 2011 general elections and its implication for democracy in Nigeria.
ER  -