IMPACT OF RADIO ON POLITICAL MOBILISATION AND EDUCATION ON VOTING HABITS IN UKANAFUN L. G. AKWA IBOM STATE

Abstract

The research examines the impact of radio on political mobilisation and education on voting habits in Ukanafun Local Government. Without doubt mass media particularly radio plays a very prominent role in the political and socio-economic development of society. Because of the accessibility of radio signal in every nooks and cranny of society, it is very rich in educating, enlightening, mobilising the electorates for political participation. Survey research method was adopted coupled with 120 copies of the questionnaire that were printed and administered to the respondents in Ukanafun local government in which 100 copies were returned. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics (tables, frequency and percentage method. Findings showed that mass media especially radio provides avenue for the illiterate citizen to get information about political activities, it did educate and sensitize masses on various activities such as registration, how to handle voter’s card, what to wear during election, how to participate in political rally and campaign, to the activities on election day, coverage of election result, coverage of post-election activities like violence and tribunal. In short, it brings electoral activities to the doorstep of the electorate. It is therefore recommended that there should be more radio to serve different taste and language and radio should be free from few influential politicians to avoid turning the media into tools of propaganda.