SOCIAL MEDIA AS EMERGING TOOLS FOR POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA (A study of 2015 Presidential Election)

Abstract

The study examined the influence of social media as emerging tool for political participation in Nigeria with a study of 2015 Presidential Election. The emergency and proliferation of social media otherwise known as citizen media has reshaped political education and mobilization in Nigeria. It offers platform for political debates, cyber activism, political campaign and political mobilization. A critical review to related literature was made. Relevant theory which was used to gratify the study was McLuhan theory on new media. Quantitative research design was used in which cross-sectional survey method was adopted while the data collection instrument was questionnaire. 200 copies of questionnaires that were administered to the three tertiary institutions from Ogun state i.e   Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Babcock University,, Ileshan and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere. Findings have shown that as a result of the political dispensation, political office holders, politicians, including president and governors now have and manage social media account such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram among others. Political leaders and political candidate now share their political agenda and mobilize people towards it propagation. It is recommended that, social media can be improved to enhance better public mobilization, sensitization and true democracy in Nigeria through citizen sensitization programmes, registration that involve national identity card among other steps.