Aremu, Fatai AyindeBakare, Adebola RafiuAbayomi, Kolapo2019-10-312019-10-312017Aremu F. A., Bakare A. R. & Abayomi, K. Q. (2017): Patterns of media coverage of Nigeria’s 2015 general elections. Journal of Communication and Language Arts. 8 (1); 135-159, Published by the Department of Communications and Language Arts, University of Ibadanhttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/3248Studies have established that the media is one of the core institutions in democratic sustenance. It is in light of this that this study attempts to analyze the patterns of media coverage of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria in order to identify the causal factors and the loopholes surrounding extant laws and policies guiding the media in the Nigeria democratic regime. Employing sequential explanatory strategy of the mixed method research design, data from four (4) major national newspapers (Nigerian Tribune, The Sun, Punch and Daily Trust) were analyzed through content analysis techniques. The media outlets were found to violate the regulatory frameworks on publication of hate speeches and characters murdering advertorials for political and economic gains. The study therefore recommends that a strong ethical standard mechanism, backed up with sanction be put in place and periodic sensitizations be done by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and other regulatory agencies on the need to eschew publications capable of undermining the peaceful existence of the country and the survival of the hard earned democracyenmedia coverageelectionsArticle