USE OF THE INTERNET FOR POLITICAL COMMUNICATION IN ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA AND SHENDAM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA: CASE OF NIGERIA 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS

ABSTRACT

The study is on use of the internet for political communication in Abuja municipal area of Abuja federal capital territory and Shendam local government area of Plateau State: Case of Nigeria 2011 general elections. This study has three major purposes: (1) determine the usefulness of internet-based political campaigns to voters’ decision making during the election, (2) identify the problems associated with the use of internet-based political campaign during the election, and ascertain the level of contribution of internet-based political campaigns in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media for political campaign during the election. Sample for the study was selected using quota and purposive sampling techniques. The respondents for the study comprised voters in Abuja Municipal Area, and Shendam Local Government Area, who were 18 years old before the 2011 Nigeria general election and had registered for voting in the election; as well as web consultants, and campaign managers of political parties. Data for this study were collected using both questionnaire and interview schedule. Findings from the study indicated that majority of voters did not access or come in contact with internet-based political campaigns during the election. The problems associated with the use of internet as a medium for political campaign during the election for political parties were illiteracy among voters, technical challenges, and inadequate electricity to run computers, among others. In terms of the usefulness of internet based campaigns to voters’ decision making among voters who access internet-based political campaigns, the study found among others, that internet-based campaigns helped them to make up their minds on choice of candidates. Internet-based political campaign was relatively successful in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media for political campaign for candidates and voters. Based on these findings the study recommended that urgent improvement of the internet infrastructure in Nigeria is needed. Factors that drive up cost of internet use should be addressed by internet operators and the government to bring down cost. Candidates and political parties should raise more competent internet campaign management teams to improve effective use of the internet for political campaigns during future elections

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1         The Study Background

One of the common complaints by opposition parties especially during elections in Nigeria is that they are not given equal airtime as the ruling parties to air their campaigns on government owned media, which is the dominant media in Nigeria to reach voters. Opposition parties often see this as deliberate attempt by the ruling parties to reduce the oppositions‘ influence and chances of winning elections. Nigerian broadcast law forbids ownership of the mass media by political parties. This therefore, means that political parties are left to use government or privately owned traditional media for political campaigns. With this comes the difficulties of access and high cost of use of these media for opposition parties.

Perhaps do to some of these challenges and other perceived benefits, in recent times; there has been a growing trend with political parties in Nigeria incorporating the internet for political campaigns.

The incorporation of the internet in political campaigns is assumed to have given campaign groups whether government or opposition parties unprecedented opportunities for political campaigns to reach voters. Ownership and use of the internet for political campaigns is open to all campaign groups and gives them the opportunities to greatly use the media to reach out to voters and supporters alike. Relatively, the cost of operating a website or using the internet is far cheaper than traditional media. Political campaigners in Nigeria are now adopting the internet for political communication aimed at mobilizing public participation in elections.

Though, there was an observed growth in use of internet-based political campaigns during the 2011 general election, questions remain about the usefulness of internet-based political campaigns to voters‘ decision making during the election in areas where they were used such as in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. Also, the body of evidence as regards problems associated with the use of internet for political campaigns as well as how the internet addresses the challenges associated with the use of traditional media for political campaigns during the election are very few and evolving.

1.2          Statement of the Problem

In Nigeria, recent elections have been characterized by an unprecedented use of the internet for political campaign by many political parties, particularly by parties in the opposition who often face hurdles in their attempts to have equal access to the traditional media for political campaigns. In Nigeria, it is not unusual to hear about accusations of unequal or limited access to the media by political parties in opposition as they seek to reach voters. There are more government controlled media in Nigeria than private owned media. It is generally assumed that within a democratic political system citizens should have sufficient opportunities to communicate their preferences toward political decision makers. Of equal importance, however, is the mobilization aspect, citizens have to be mobilized and recruited in order to be able to participate. It is in this regard that limiting access to the media for political campaigns for political parties hurt their ability to recruit or gain supports of voters and enable the parties realize their objectives.

The 2011 Nigerian elections witnessed an increased use of the internet for political campaigns by political parties. Though it assumed that the use of the internet for political campaigns may hold a lot promises for political parties, challenges likely to be faced by citizens in the area of accessing the internet for political information during political campaigns in Nigeria may pose a challenge to the relevance of internet use for political campaign. Other issues that raise concern are likely challenges inherent in the use of the medium for political campaigns. There are also questions concerning voters‘ dependence on the medium for decision making as it relates to choosing of candidates and parties during elections as well as role the internet could likely play in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media in political campaigns during elections; and the impact it has on voters during the election. These identified issues are important in that they could greatly impact on the challenges that could arise in the use of the internet for political campaigns. This study intends to address these questions.

1.3             Research Questions

The research questions of the study are as follows:

1. To what extent did voters in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area come in contact with internet-based political campaigns during the 2011 Nigeria presidential election?
2. What were the problems associated with the use of internet as a medium for political campaign during the 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area?
3. To what extent did internet-based political campaigns aid voters‘ decision- making during the 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area?
4. What was the level of contribution of the internet in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media in political campaigns during the 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area?
5. What were the similarities in the wordings of the internet-based political campaign massages used in the 2011 Nigeria presidential election?

1.4              Objectives of the Study

This study sets out to achieve the following specific objectives:

1. Determine the extent, voters in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area came in contact with internet-based political campaign during the 2011 presidential election.
2. Ascertain the problems associated with the use of internet as a medium for political campaign during the 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area.
3. Find out the extent to which internet-based political campaigns aided voters‘ decision making in the 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area.
4. Determine the level of internet contribution in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media in political campaigns during the 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area.
5. Examine the similarities in the wordings of the internet-based campaign massages used in the 2011 Nigeria presidential election.

1.5          Significance of the Study

Studies on the use of the internet as a tool for political campaign in the 2011 Nigeria general elections are few and thus, have necessitated the need for this study. In view of the growing use of the internet as a medium for political campaign in Nigeria, this study is thus timely as it offers opportunity for empirical enquiry on the use of the internet for political campaigns in Nigeria with specific reference to determining the relevance of internet-based political campaigns to voters‘ decision making during the 2011 general election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area in Nigeria; identify the problems associated with the use of internet-based political campaign during the 2011 general elections in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area and also, determine the contribution of internet-based political campaigns in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media for political campaign during the 2011 general election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area and determine the impact of internet-based political campaigns on voters during the 2011 Nigeria general election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area.

Furthermore, this study is important in that its findings will fill the knowledge gap that exist in the body of knowledge on the suitability of use of the internet as a medium for mobilizing society towards political causes in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area; determine the relevance of internet-based political campaigns to voters; determine the contribution of the internet in addressing challenges associated with the use of traditional media in political campaigns particularly in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area, as well as examine the impact of internet-based political campaigns on voters in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area. It is assumed that the findings of this study will be of interest to political campaign managers, web consultants, political parties, media scholars and the general public who may have interest in internet-based political campaigning.

1.6        Scope of the Study

This research intends to examine the use of internet for political campaign during Nigeria 2011 presidential election in Abuja Municipal Area and Shendam Local Government Area.Unlike other Nigerian elections, the 2011 presidential election was characterized by a significant use of the internet in political campaigns. This particular reason influenced the choice of the 2011 Nigeria presidential election as the case study for this research.

1.7          Limitation of the Study

It was difficult to authentically verify if all members of the sample of the study had actually registered for voting in the 2011 Nigerian General elections. Criteria for being part of the population for the study were that voters should be of voting age (18 years old) before the 2011 Nigeria general elections and should have registered for voting in the election

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