Social media messages as political communication strategy.

Abstract

Abstract The research problem this study set to demystify is that even as vast literature exists on political communication and social media, it is unlikely that analysis of social media posts by the Independent National Electoral Commission has been done. Method of the study was content analysis which nine INEC posts on Facebook and Twitter purposively selected were analysed. Unit of analysis was textual elements that constituted the social media posts. The study revealed that the social media posts were simple, appealing, persuasive and apt with possibility of providing civic education to the Nigerian electorate. The study concluded that social media are indispensable in political communication as they create awareness, enhance election transparency and ultimately, build credibility and integrity of elections. The study recommends, among other things, sustained use of social media with potentials to galvanise the electorate for active political participation and improve integrity of elections in Nigeria.

Description

Keywords

electoral process, electoral system, franchise, political communication, social media, technology

Citation

18. Udende, P., Tsafa, T.N., Omoloso, A.I., Akpede, K.S., Abdulrauf-Salau, A., & Tijani, A.F. (2021). Social media messages as political communication strategy. Journal of Media, Communication & Languages (JMC&L), 8(1), 19-44, Published by Faculty of Communication Technology, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar

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