Abstract

Since independence in 1960 and the emergence of the military into the Nigerian political terrain in 1966 the woes of the country have been blamed on the military After long period of military dictatorship in Nigeria the advent of democratic rule through the ballot box elections in 1999 brought with it some rays of hope to the general populace who had believed that the country is on the verge of saving a future especially of the youths which was hijacked by the administration of the dictatorial rule of the Khaki boys and selected political godsons However political events in the last decade since 1999 has shown that rather than liberating the people that voted them into power through the ballot boxes activities of the politicians political parties and their cohorts militicians seems to reaffirmed that the future of the country and her citizens especially the youths and resources have been hijacked This has been exhibited in the wide spread cases of corruption rigged elections electoral violence and killings as well as general state of insecurity that has pervaded the nation s landscape This paper using historical methodology seeks to examine the relationship between the political activities in Nigeria including the conduct of elections and electoral process political class since 1999 and national development