PDF

Published

2024-03-08

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 6 (2024)

Section

Research Articles

License

The journal adopts the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0), which means that anyone can reuse and redistribute the materials for non-commercial purposes as long as you follow the license terms and the original source is properly cited.

Author(s) shall retain the copyright of their work and grant the Journal/Publisher rights for the first publication with the work concurrently licensed since 2023 Vol.8 No.2.

Under this license, author(s) will allow third parties to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute and/or copy the content under the condition that the authors are given credit. No permission is required from the authors or the publisher.

This broad license intends to facilitate free access, as well as the unrestricted use of original works of all types. This ensures that the published work is freely and openly available in perpetuity.

By providing open access, the following benefits are brought about:

  • Higher Visibility, Availability and Citations-free and unlimited accessibility of the publication over the internet without any restrictions increases citation of the article.
  • Ease of search-publications are easily searchable in search engines and indexing databases.
  • Rapid Publication – accepted papers are immediately published online.
  • Available for free download immediately after publication at https://esp.as-pub.com/index.php/ESP

 

Copyright Statement

1.The authors certify that the submitted manuscripts are original works, do not infringe the rights of others, are free from academic misconduct and confidentiality issues, and that there are no disputes over the authorship scheme of the collaborative articles. In case of infringement, academic misconduct and confidentiality issues, as well as disputes over the authorship scheme, all responsibilities will be borne by the authors.

2. The author agrees to grant the Editorial Office of Environment and Social Psychology a licence to use the reproduction right, distribution right, information network dissemination right, performance right, translation right, and compilation right of the submitted manuscript, including the work as a whole, as well as the diagrams, tables, abstracts, and any other parts that can be extracted from the work and used in accordance with the characteristics of the journal. The Editorial Board of Environment and Social Psychology has the right to use and sub-licence the above mentioned works for wide dissemination in print, electronic and online versions, and, in accordance with the characteristics of the periodical, for the period of legal protection of the property right of the copyright in the work, and for the territorial scope of the work throughout the world.

3. The authors are entitled to the copyright of their works under the relevant laws of Singapore, provided that they do not exercise their rights in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the Journal.

About Licence

Environment and Social Psychology is an open access journal and all published work is available under the Creative Commons Licence, Authors shall retain copyright of their work and grant the journal/publisher the right of first publication, and their work shall be licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0).

Under this licence, the author grants permission to third parties to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute and/or copy the content with attribution to the author. No permission from the author or publisher is required.

This broad licence is intended to facilitate free access to and unrestricted use of original works of all kinds. This ensures that published works remain free and accessible in perpetuity. Submitted manuscripts, once accepted, are immediately available to the public and permanently accessible free of charge on the journal’s official website (https://esp.as-pub.com/index.php/ESP). Allowing users to read, download, copy, print, search for or link to the full text of the article, or use it for other legal purposes. However, the use of the work must retain the author's signature, be limited to non-commercial purposes, and not be interpretative.

Click to download <Agreement on the Licence for the Use of Copyright on Environmental and Social Psychology>.

How to Cite

Ijeh, P. N., Onojeghwo, M. O., & Erubami, J. A. (2024). Beyond the ballot: Understanding voters’ perception on electoral reforms and mass media influence in Nigeria. Environment and Social Psychology, 9(6). https://doi.org/10.54517/esp.v9i6.2283

Beyond the ballot: Understanding voters’ perception on electoral reforms and mass media influence in Nigeria

Patrick Nkemdilim Ijeh

Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University

Mavis Okeoghene Onojeghwo

Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University

Joshua Aghogho Erubami

Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University


DOI: https://doi.org/10.54517/esp.v9i6.2283


Keywords: electoral reforms, media agenda, public perception, public policies, political agenda setting

Abstract

Elections are critical aspects of functional democracy and their perceived credibility ultimately affects the extent of public participation in political processes. As an underlying psychological process, perception influences how individuals arrange, interpret, and derive meanings from the information they encounter. This study examines electorates’ perceptions of electoral reforms as a prerequisite for credible elections in Nigeria and the perceived roles of the mass media in this regard. The study adopts the survey research method to sample the views of 384 registered voters in the 2023 Nigerian general elections using the multistage sampling technique. The collected data were analysed using the descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation. Findings show that the respondents are very much aware of previous efforts aimed at electoral reforms in Nigeria, and they perceive such reforms as prerequisites for credible elections because they sanitise election-related activities and ensure that election results reflect electorates’ desires. Similarly, the respondents also perceive the mass media as key players in electoral reform efforts because they arouse citizens’ political consciousness on the need for electoral reforms by creating awareness of the defects in existing electoral processes and educating the masses on the need for adequate political involvement. The study recommends, among others, that Nigeria should sustain genuine electoral reforms until the ideal electoral system evolves, and Nigerians should continue to participate in all electoral processes as politics is too important to be left to politicians alone.

References

[1]. Ijeh NP. Voters’ Perception of Cultural Elements in Political Advertising for the April 2011 General Elections in Nigeria. Acta Universitatis Danubius Communicatio 2012; 6(2): 15-30.

[2]. Osinakachukwu NP, Jawan JA. The Electoral Process and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria. Journal of Politics and Law 2021; 4(2): 128-138. doi: 105539/jpl.v4n2p128

[3]. Ibagere E. The Mass Media, Nigerians’ Political Awareness and their Capacity to Make Political Choices. European Journal of Arts and Humanities 2013; 1(20): 89-78

[4]. Isma’Ila Y, Othman Z. Challenges of Electoral Processes in Nigeria’s Quest for Democratic Governance in the Fourth Republic. Research on Humanities and Social Science 2015; 5(22): 1-10

[5]. Ijeh NP. Setting Social Agenda for Education through Educational Television – Insights from a Media Effect Theory. Research in Education 2014; 20(1): 173-178.

[6]. Animashaun K. Regime Character, Electoral Crisis and Prospects of Electoral Reform in Nigeria. Journal of Nigeria Studies 2010; 1 (1): 1-33

[7]. Odeomelam UB. The connection between electoral malpractice and leadership crisis in Nigeria: Implications on political development. International Journal of Communication 2011; 13: 426-439

[8]. Popoola IS. Electoral System and Electoral Processes: The Challenges of the 2011 Elections in Nigeria: A Political Communication Perspective. International Journal of Communication 2011; 13: 301-337.

[9]. Ugondo PI. Newspaper editorials and agenda for credible elections in Nigeria: A Look at the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. Novena Journal of Communication 2018; 8: 95-107.

[10]. Oboh GO. Reflecting on the Nigerian Media, Elections, and the African Democracy. Sage Open 2016: 1 –10. doi: 10.1177/2158244016666886

[11]. Omotola JS. Electoral Reform and the Prospects of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria. Journal of African Elections 2011; 10(1): 187-206. doi: 10.20940/JAE/2011/v10i1a9

[12]. Obakhedo NO. Curbing Electoral Violence in Nigeria: The Imperative of Political Education. African Research Review 2011; 5(5): 99-110.

[13]. Shehu IM, Othman MF, Osman NB. Nigeria’s Politics of Electoral Reforms: In Who’s Interest? Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies 2017; 5(5): 25-32.

[14]. Adegbola O, Gearhart S. Examining the Relationship between Media Use and Political Engagement: A Comparative Study among the United States, Kenya and Nigeria. International Journal of Communication 2019; 13: 1231-1251.

[15]. Ojo EO, Adebayo PF. Many “Sins” of the Mass Media in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal of the Media in a Decade of Nascent Democracy. Journal of Media and Communication Studies 2013; 8(2): 95-102 doi: 10.5897/JMC So9.010

[16]. Erubami JA. Public perception of social media contribution to political participation processes in Delta State, Nigeria. Acta Universitatis Danubius. Communicatio 2020; 14(1): 105-119.

[17]. Erubami JA, Ufuophu-Biri E, Anorue LI, et al. Generational dichotomies in public perception of social media coverage of the Nigerian #EndSARS protests: Implication for networked communication. Cogent Arts & Humanities 2021; 8(1): 1988192. doi: 10.1080/23311983.2021.1988192

[18]. Brown GM. Nigerian Political System: An Analysis. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science 2013; 3(10): 172-179.

[19]. Mbaegbu CC, Ogbodo SO. Reconstructing the Nigerian Electoral System: A Prognosis of Democratic Consolidation. University of Nigeria Journal of Political Economy 2021; 9(1): 200-217.

[20]. Amaechi CM, Muoh OU. Constitution Building as a Panacea to Identity conflicts in Africa: The Case of Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 2017; 8(4): 17-26. doi: 10.1515/mjss-2017-0002

[21]. Afe Babalola University. Constitution under the Colonial Era: 1914 Constitution; Clifford’s Constitution, 1922; Richard’s 1946 Constitution; Macpherson’s Constitution of 1951; 1954 Lyttleton Constitution. Available online: https://portal.abuad.edu.ng/lecturer/documents/1587036271Constitutions_under_the_colonial_era.pptx (accessed on 14 July 2023).

[22]. Nigerianscholars. Oliver Lyttleton Constitution. Available online: https://nigerianscholars.com/tutorials/west-african-constitutional-development/oliver-lyttleton-constitution (accessed on 23 April 2023).

[23]. Akinduro O. Nigeria: The role of the EMB in electoral reform. Available online: https://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/lf/annex/lfc/electoral-reform-in-nigeria-insights-into-emb-role/mobile_browsing/onePag (accessed on 13 June 2023).

[24]. Renwick A. The politics of electoral reform: Changing the rules of democracy. Cambridge University Press; 2010.

[25]. Eme OI. Electoral Reform in Nigeria: The Challenges Ahead. Bassey Andah Journal 2008; 1: 59-75.

[26]. Botchway TP, Kwarteng AH. Electoral Reforms and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana: An Analysis of the Role of the Electoral Commission in the Fourth Republic (1992-2016). Asian Research Journal of Arts and Social Sciences 2018; 5(3): 1-12.

[27]. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Electoral law reform in Africa: insights into the role of EMBS and approaches to engagement. Available online: https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/electoral-reform-in-africa.pdf (accessed on 18 June 2023).

[28]. Leyenaar M. Hazan YR. Reconceptualising electoral reform. West European Politics 2011; 34(3): 437-455. doi: 10.1080/01402382.2011.555974

[29]. Onapajo H. Nigeria’s 2015 general elections: The salience of electoral reforms. The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs 2015; 104 (5): 573-584.

[30]. James TS. Election statecraft and election administration: Bending the rules of the game? Palgrave Macmillan; 2012.

[31]. Bishop S, Hoeffler A. Free and Fair Elections: A New Database. Journal of Peace Research 2016; 53(4): 608-616.

[32]. Garba G. Mass media in Africa's nascent democracy; The West African story. Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies 2016; 7(1): 19-30.

[33]. Adeagbo SA, Ewuola PO, Lawal A, Awofadeju PO. 2019 General elections: Revisiting the role of the mass media in crisis resolution in Nigeria. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology and Sciences 2019; 60(1): 68-82.

[34]. Ijeh NP, Omasheye RK. Assessment of voters’ response to Global System Mobile telecommunication political advertising platforms used in the 2015 gubernatorial electioneering campaigns in Delta State, Nigeria. Journal of Social and Management Sciences 2016; 11(1): 44-52.

[35]. Santas T, Ogoshi JD. An appraisal of mass media role in consolidating democracy in Nigeria. African Research Review 2016; 10(1): 73-86. doi: 10.4314/afrrev.v10i1.7

[36]. Aghamelu FC. The role of the mass media in the Nigerian electoral process. Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities 2013; 14(2): 154-172. doi: 10.4314/ujah.v14i2.8

[37]. Ijeh NP. Newspaper portrayal of the Nigerian home video (February-December, 2008). Journal of Social and Management Sciences 2013; 7(1): 93-101.

[38]. Ijeh PN. A discourse on the mass media as imperatives in Nigeria’s evolving democracy. International Journal of Social and Humanities Research 2023; 6(6): 71-78.

[39]. Erubami JA, Bebenimibo P, Ohaja UE. Newspaper exposure, efficacy feeling and political apathy among youths in southeast Nigeria. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 2021; 29(3): 1611-1629. doi: 10.4783/pjssh.29.3.08

[40]. Erubami JA, Okpeki PI, Ohaja EU, et al. Beyond health belief: Modeling the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among social media users in Nigeria. Studies in Media and Communication 2022; 10(2): 39-42. doi: 10.11114/smc.v10i25600

[41]. Ufuophu-Biri E, Ijeh PN. The place of digital nativity and digital immigration on internet accessibility and usage by students and lecturers of tertiary institutions of learning in Delta State, Nigeria. Acaemic journal of Interdisciplinary Studies 2021; 10(1): 214-227. doi: 10.36941/ajis-2021-0019

[42]. Ugwuoke JC, Erubami JA. Old war, new battleground: deconstructing the potency of social media for community engagement in Nigeria’s human rights advocacy efforts. World of Media Journal. Journal of Russian Media and Journalism Studies 2021; 2, 56-74. doi: 10.30547/worldofmedia.2.2021.3

[43]. Independent National electoral Commission. PVCs Collected Registered Voters. Available online: https://www.inecnigeria.org/wp-conten/uploads/2023/02/PVCs-Collected-Registered-Voters.pdf (accessed on 8 February 2023).



21 Woodlands Close #02-10 Primz Bizhub Singapore 737854

Email:editorial_office@as-pub.com