POLITICAL APATHY
LESSON OBJECTIVES: The students should be able to
1. Explain the concept of political apathy,
2. enumerates four forms of political apathy,
3. list three reasons for political apathy,
4. identify five ways of fighting political apathy.
Apathy is the lack of interest or concern on something. An apathetic individual has
absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual philosophical
and or physical life.
Political apathy refers to the lackadaisical attitude of a citizen towards the political
or other affairs of the government of his or her state.
Political apathy is the indifference on the part of citizens of any country as regards
their attitude towards political activities’ for instance civic responsibilities,
election, public opinions.
Political apathy (in other words, absenteeism) means a phenomenon when citizens
shirk participation in elections, or in broad sense, political behavior characterized
by inaction. This phenomenon is a very common phenomenon country where
citizens consider themselves powerless. They think they can’t decide anything in
their country. Nigeria is not an exception. The political apathy in Nigeria is
expressed in different ways. On the one hand, such position is understandable
because people were disappointed in politics more than once. And this is a problem
not only of Nigeria but all over the world.
Forms of political apathy
1. Refusal to form or belong to political parties
2. Refusal to register to vote
3. Refusal to check one’s names in the voters’ register
4. Refusal to participate in protests and demonstrations
5. Refusal to join to fight against electoral malpractices
6. Refusal to contest in elections
7. Fighting at polling booths and destroying electoral material
8. Refusal to listen to political news/ affairs.
REASONS FOR POLITICAL APATHY
1. Bad governance
2. Presences of economic obstacles
3. High level of illiteracy in society.
4. Presence of nepotism and favoritism in the society
5. Falsification of election results.
6. Once religious belief.
7. Crudity of politics
8. Rigging of election
9. Past history of political occurrences
WAYS OF FIGHTING POLITICAL APATHY
1. Participations in elections: learning of biographies and political activity of
candidates.
2. Learning and defending people’s rights.
3. Join to Nigerian political parties or organizations such as Nigeria Labor
Congress
4. . Development of political culture and interest.
5. Motivation of the people to improve their lives that depend on political
situation in the country.
REASON WHY LEADERS FAILS TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF
THEIR FOLLOWERS
1. Poor revenue allocation
2. Issues of god-fatherism
3. The interest of political parties members
4. Lack of political and experiences
5. Selfishness and greed on their part
6. High dependence on the government
