CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Communication is the key to success in politics, Giffin & Patten (1976) state that

communication is the process of creating meaning as well as ascribing it. It is the

exchange of ideas and interaction among group members. The Oxford Advanced

Learner’s Dictionary of Current English (2004) defines communication as the activity or

process of expressing ideas and feelings or of giving people information. One can safely

say that communication is the act of transferring information and messages from one place

to another and from one person to another. In a related manner, the Online Business

Dictionary describes communication as a two way process. It involves participants

reaching a mutual understanding beyond merely encoding and decoding information,

news, ideas and feelings. It is important that they also create and share the meaning

content in the messages passed (Daniel, 2013). In addition to this, communication is also

seen as a means of connecting people or places. It is also regarded as an important key

function of management because an organization cannot operate without communication

between levels, departments and employees (Okenimpkpe, 2010).

Social media is a powerful communication medium, that allows users to create, share, and

or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and network. Social media has

become a vital method of communication in the 21st century. Social media influencers

represent a new type of independent third-party endorser who shaped audience attitudes

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 through blogs, tweets and the use of other social media. The popularity of social media in

political discourse could enable oppressed citizens to stand against tyrants and demand for

accountability in governance. Mavidis (2018) states that the social media platform. such as

Facebook, Twitter or Instagram offer grounds for the generation and distribution of fake

news and hate speech, The Mass Media have emerged the most common source of

information about election campaigns in democracies and societies in transition around the

world. Macnamona ( 2008)

Political participation in general terms focuses on how citizens in a state partake of that

state's political activities. Adelekan (2010) describes political participation as the process

in which individuals in a society play a role in the political system of the society and also

have the leverage of deciding the common goals of the society coupled with the most

successful way of achieving these goals. In essence political participation can be otherwise

defined as any activity carried out by a citizen who is aimed at influencing political

participation (Deth 2001).

Most of the activities which are politically inclined and involve citizen participation are

voluntary activities which are why there is political apathy in many societies. For

example, citizens during the period of election could decide whether or not to vote any

running party into power or participate in pushing campaigns to promote a particular party

or taking part in rallies, joining community affairs, being a member of a political group

campaigning and other events in that society for such political system. Political

participation is strongly advised for people in the society because it gives the opportunity

to share their views, preferences, their different opinions in other to move a country or

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 society’s development to the next level. The many benefits of using social media for

political participation include granting citizens the opportunity to participate actively and

get involved fully in the political discourse voices on issues posted on social media sites.

The platforms also afford electorates a friendlier avenue of assessing candidates for

political offices and promoting transparency in governance, thus, advancing the tenets of

participatory democracy that sees the media as debate avenues which aid tremendously the

actualization of involvement in politics.

Social media also offer a range of potentials for innovating governance and finding new

ways of governing by creating an opportunity of listening to citizens’ opinion pool online,

thereby setting ideas about citizenry needs including the possible reaction of people

towards public decision-making processes. The platforms equally provide politicians with

the opportunity to be informally free with the public as politicians can reach the masses to

assess the political atmosphere even before venturing into the campaign. This connection

helps politicians to appeal to citizens, communicate their humor, indicate their

approachability, as well as accessibility to the public, thereby making them seem more

personable and in constant contact with their supporters. Even though the advent of social

media in the political arena has drastically impacted the politicians and voters alike; the

use of social media for political participation has its drawbacks. Misinformation, political

harassment, rumors, fake news, propaganda and trolling are some of the problems of using

social media for political participation. Besides, the topic of bots affecting the outcome of

elections has recently become a mainstream topic during elections. Bots are used to leak

fake news stories, spread dissension and create fake profiles on social media platforms that

sow divide between people and political parties.

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 The 2022 Osun State gubernatorial election revealed how Osun residents participated on

social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram to follow up the

election process, it is worthy to note that both previous and present administration witness

a lot of criticism on social media, simply because it was an avenue to say one's mind

without fear of consequences. All activities of the previous and present administration

have been put under watch of various social media handle’s, with the affordability of

smart phone and easy access to the apps getting. Current news become easier and also give

the residents the freedom to express their feelings

The Osun residents most especially Adeleke David Fans really participated on the social

media and followed up the election process. Osun residents participated effectively on the

social media, the residents were influenced by the social media to have more interest in

politics

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Despite the abundance of research on politics and social media, there seems to be limited

empirical studies on the relationship between the media and the political knowledge.

A significant quality of political knowledge about politics appears insufficient to meet the

standard of a competent citizen (Dellicarpin and Keetar 1996)

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STU DY

To investigate if osun electorates have access to social media

 To investigate the influence of social media on electorate voting pattern

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  To identify the level of influence of social media on participation in the election.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Does osun electorates have access to social media?

 Has social media influence electorate voting pattern in Osun State?

 How did social media influence the level of political participation among Osun residents

1.5 THE SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study is to identify the influence of social media platforms on osun residents in

political participation,The study is based on the effective use of social media in politics

1.6 DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following key terms used in the study are highlighted and defined operationally to reflect

their usage in the study. These include social media, influence, politics, participation, residents,

governorship, election.

 Social Media: It is a website or application that enable users to create and share content

or to participate in social networking.

 Influence: This is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or

behavior of someone or something.

 Politics: This is the activities aimed at improving someone status or increasing power

within an organization.

 Participation: This is the action of taking part in something.

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  Residents: A person’s home, especially a large and impressive one.

 Governorship: The office or position of being governor of a town, region or public

institution.

 Election: This is a formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office

or other position.

CHAPTER TWO

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 LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter reviews literatures relevant to the study as well as the theoretical framework,

various concepts were discussed and comprehensively explained

2.1 CONCEPTUAL REVIEW

This introduces the conceptual framework of this study and provides an overview of the study of

Social media influence on political participation

2.1.1. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Political participation is the involvement of citizens in the country’s political system. According

to Griffin and Morey (2015), political participation is seen as a set of rights and duties that

involves formerly organised civic and political activities. It is a civic responsibility that is

voluntarily carried out by the populace of a particular country or state. Through political

participation, citizens are able to choose who would lead them and are therefore indirectly

involved in the decision making process of their state or country. They can vote for people land

also put themselves out to be voted for. Invariably, political participation, allows people to

influence issues in their communities and country. Political participation is realised through the

process of elections and voting. Therefore, the component of a liberal democratic political

system is elections since it is a formal mechanism through which citizens maintain or discard the

existing political leadership (Flanigan and Zingale, 1998). Through elections, ordinary citizens

have the power to proffer continuous support to the existing leadership of their community or out

rightly reject them and elect new ones. Therefore, through elections, the electorates are able to

consciously evaluate the performance of the existing leaders and pass either a vote of no

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confidence on them or endorse them for continuity. Across the globe, countries, groups and

individuals have used the social media to curry the attention of electorates and stimulate higher

levels of political participation from the public. In Nigeria, the potency of the social media in

stimulating and enhancing political involvement has also been well demonstrated. During

general elections, it is common to find politicians, political parties and the Independent Electoral

Commission (INEC) making frantic efforts to connect with Nigerians via their various social

media platforms. Besides their general efficacy for electioneering campaign purposes, the social

media have also been utilized to co-ordinate some of the most impactful social campaigns

against perceived government failures, such as the Occupy Nigeria protest initiated against the

removal of fuel subsidy by the Nigerian government in January 2012, and the #BBOG (Bring

back Our Girls) campaign coordinated on Twitter and other social networking sites to draw

public attention to the seemingly forgotten story of over 200 Chibok Community School girls

abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s North-east. An important element of

contemporary democracy (Bernard et al, 2011). 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 in the electoral

process. With the emergence of the internet, various authors, parties and organizations have

identified new possibilities for mobilizing citizens. Moreover, many researchers have claimed

that the use of this new medium could lead to a more democratic functioning of society (Eva,

2009; Arthur, 2012). With the boost and the growing importance of the internet, this medium

comes to play an important role in contemporary political communication, campaign and

elections. Many political parties, institutions and organizations nowadays invest a lot of effort

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and money to be present online. We may even go further and claim that the boom of new

information and communication technologies (ICTs) have really reshaped current political

communication and mobilization strategies.

2.1.2. SOCIAL MEDIA

When we talk of social media, we mean those Internet-based tools and services that allow users

to engage with each other, generate content, distribute, and search for information online. In

other words, the social media are interactive web-based media platforms that offer citizens

opportunity and place to connect, share opinions, experiences, views, contacts, knowledge,

expertise, as well as other things like job and career tips. They belong to a new genre of media

that focuses on social networking allowing users to express themselves, interact with friends and

share information with greater freedom as well as publish their views on issues on the World

Wide Web. observes that it is this interactive or collaborative nature of these tools that makes

them social. describes these media as “online platforms that promote participation, openness,

conversation and connectedness”.

Social media according to Kaplan (2014) is a group of Internet-based applications that build on

the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and

exchange of user-generated content”. With social media, physical boundaries are overcome and

there is possibility of people who have never met before to create, share and collaborate on ideas

that will be of benefit to all. Social media sites also known as social networking sites such as

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Wechat, blogger, Myspace and several others have transformed

the face of communication and totally redefined visibility and participation. Wigand et al (2010)

posited that social media have become a natural part of people’s everyday lives all over the
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world, especially youths. Research has also shown that osun residents expecially youths are the

most users of social media . This is not surprising since they have been brought up in the era of

online internet technology. Young people of today are growing up in a world more connected by

knowledge and information through technology. Residents are mostly impacted by social media

as social media tools are embedded into majority of young people’s lives . social media

transcends the television broadcast age and the interactivity of it is what has given rise to wide

acceptability of it. Salman and Saad (2015) describe the youths as citizens in their formative

years and that they are the ones who are mostly enamored with social media. Furthermore, the

ability to multi-task and use multimedia has spread social media use beyond individuals to

organization who want to have an edge above others. . Social media has influenced osun

residents to the point of enhanced exposure to what hitherto would have been impossible and is

creating .The use of social media for political purposes was first experimented in Nigeria during

the 2011 general elections. Given its novelty, Okoro and Nwafor (2013) examined the drawbacks

and lessons learnt from the experimental deployment of online platforms during the elections,

and found sufficient evidence to conclude that although online media were used to make vital

inputs in Nigeria’s political discourse, the platforms were explored by users to attack perceived

political opponents, spread false rumours, fake news, hate speeches and inciting messages that

precipitated thetension and violence recorded before, during and after the elections in many parts

of the country. also found that the social media had a significant positive influence on citizens’

mobilisation and participation in the 2022 gubernatoral elections.

Looking at social media from a more practical point of view, Sweetser and Lariscy (2008: 179)

define social media as a “read-write Web, where the online audience moves beyond passive

viewing of Web content to actually contributing to the content”. One thing that is common in the
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definitions of social media reviewed in this work is the view that it is based on user-generated

participation. The opportunity to enjoy user-to-user interaction distinguishes social media from

the traditional media which is characterized by top-down news dissemination arrangement (Clark

and Aufderheide, 2009:28). Another attribute of the social media which distinguishes it from the

traditional media is the choice it accords its users. Choice enables people to access the

information they like to learn about through the social media, eliminating the gatekeeper role of

traditional media. On one hand, the choice offered by social media reduces the shared experience

that viewers of particular traditional media channels usually have; on the other hand, it creates a

network of individuals with like interests and similar preferences.

2.1.3 POLITICS AND SOCIAL MEDIA

According to Bimber and Copeland (2011) today social media is a very effective place for

communication among people. People can use this platform to share ideas, experiences and other

important information. In the case of politics, social media works as a means of practising

democracy and political participation. This all has a direct impact on the political behaviour of

politically motivated people. The election of the USA can use as a great example. In the election

campaign, political actors have used social media platforms to successfully manage the election

campaign and social media also helps them to spread needed information to the voters and

engage them in a political campaign (Jiang, 2016). Social media is also a very effective place for

the politician to pursue the opinion of their pair mate to become more effective in a political

campaign and adopt ideas to motivate citizens to vote for them. The most popular social media

site is Facebook that helps political marketing efforts by giving access to various means to send

messages to the target audience . For this reason, politicians have great skills to become more

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effective to promote politicians and candidates on social media. This also helps them to make a

positive image about their candidate and share needed and important information to the citizen to

make an effective political change and increase supporters (Bimber and Copeland, 2011). All the

popular social media websites help users to share content such as articles, images, videos and

documentaries to make a group of people with the same interest. So, most of the researchers in

this field concluded that many tools in social media help to target specific audiences to get

success in gathering people with the same interests.

2.1.4. MEDIA AND POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE

The mass media are commonly seen as the oxygen of democratic governance and the public

square for the nurturing of democratic norms and ideals (Odunlami, 2014). According to

Dahlgren (2000), the free media outlets make a wide range of information accessible to the

public and provide political knowledge through access to reliable and comprehensible resources

such as portrayals, news, reports, discussions and so forth about social and political affairs.

Likewise,Chaffee and Frank (1996) opined that textual (newspaper), auditory (radio news), and

audiovisual (television) news channels should be able to provide vital information about

important political and social issues. The BBC Media Action equally reported that a healthy

relationship between the media and the public is needed for well-functioning democracy because

informed citizenry is crucial for political accountability (Scavo and Snow, 2016). Just like

family, school, political system, religion and occupation, the media play vital roles as agents of

political socialization in the society. Access to the media has significant relationship with

knowledge and attitudes (Brewer and Ley, 2010), because the general public get their news and

information from mass media. According to scholars, knowledge of politics is dependent on

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Access to and usage of news media (Möller and de Vreese, 2015; Prior, 2005). Similarly,

Aalberg et al (2013) revealed a positive relationship between political news use and political

knowledge. The educative roles of the traditional and new media seem to have increase political

interest, discussion, and ideological sophistication in many countries (Aarts and Semetko, 2003).

Therefore, the media are tools for political knowledge and democratic consolidation (Castells,

2007). The more citizens use television, radio, newspapers or internet to access the news, the

higher their political knowledge which is crucial to political participation (Delli Carpini, 2000).

Widespread availability of news and political information on internet and satellite television has

tendencies to improve citizens’ knowledge of current events. Tewksbury, Weaver, and Maddex

(2001) proved that search engine results and web portals that mixed news headlines with

entertainment stories can cause accidental exposure to political information. This knowledge

tends to be positively related with political knowledge. Paradoxically, Prior (2007) demonstrated

that greater media choice (i.e., cable television and internet access) widens gaps in political

information and electoral participation between individuals who prefer news and those who

prefer entertainment. Feldman and Kawakami (1991) in their study of 1100 Japanese

undergraduates discovered that attention and exposure to newspaper and internet is a stronger

predictor of political knowledge and participation than televisions. Likewise a Canadian study

noted a positive relationship between newspaper reading and political knowledge (Milner, 2005).

But Aarts and Semetko (2003) found that the combined impact of television, radio, internet and

socially media seem to diminish the influence of newspapers and magazines on citizens’ political

behavior. Similarly, Prior (2007) revealed that due to satellite television there is a 20% drop in

political knowledge because of viewers’ preference for entertainment shows. He disclosed that

the availability of multiple sources of information spread across the internet, social media,

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television (local and satellite), radio, newspapers and magazines is providing citizens with option

which tend to reduce access to political information. But some scholars opined that even if news

consumers care more about entertainment, sports, etc., they will nonetheless receive political

information as a result of the simple act of perusing their sources of information (e.g. Tewksbury

et al., 2001). The Obama election in 2008, the Iranian post

2.1.5 ELECTION

An election is usually brought about when people, in order to fill a position, collectively and

voluntarily put their consent for the choice of a candidate through voting. Through voting, the

candidate with the highest vote gets elected. Elections are primarily mechanism for selecting

certain governmental leaders, as well as removing leaders from office, and preventing others

from gaining office through democratic means (Flanigan and Singale, 1998:186). In some

countries, election brings about stability and instability. At the most abstract level, elections are

mechanisms capable of translating the popular will into institutionally defined roles. At the

concrete level, elections are about the choice of individuals. The word election derives from a

Latin word „eligere‟, meaning to pick out, to choose. Election constitutes the major process for

instituting governments and for holding public officials accountable for their actions and keeping

them responsive to the people‟s needs and interests in democracies (Suberu, 1996; Wayne

2001:7).

2.1.6 POLITICS

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This is the activities associated with the governance of a country or area especially the debate

between parties having power,it is also associated with decisions in groups or other forms of

power relations among individuals such as the distribution of resources or status.

2.1.7. POLITICAL SYSTEM

This is a framework which defines acceptable political methods within a society

2.2. THEORETICAL FRAME WORK

This study is guided by agenda setting theory and game theory

2.2.1 Agenda setting theory

Paradigms that could be used in analyzing the role of the social media of Osun citizens‟ to

participate in elections abound, but the theoretical framework of this study will be limited to the

Agenda Setting Theory. The Agenda setting theory of the media according to Zhu and Blood

(1997:111), “is the process whereby the news media lead the public in assigning relative

importance to various public issues”. This is because the action of the media is towards

influencing people‟s perception of what is important, acceptable, or desirable. Attention is drawn

to certain aspects of reality and away from others, thus influencing people in terms of what to

think.Agenda setting does not ascribe to the media the power to determine what people actually

think but it does ascribe to them the power to determine what people are thinking about. They set

the agenda for political campaigns. Daniel (2003:121)

2.2.2 Game theory

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Paragdigms that could be used for analyzing political participation of osun residents is known as

‘game theory a rather short period of time, game theory has become one of the most powerful

analytical tools in the study of politics. From its earliest applications in electoral and legislative

behavior, game theoretic models have proliferated in such diverse areas as international security,

ethnic cooperation, to democratization. Indeed all of the major fields in political science have

been the recipients of important contributions from political game theoretic models. The

concepts of game theory provide a common language to formulate, structure, analyze and

eventually understand different strategic scenarios. Game theory is a scientific discipline that

investigates conflict situations, the interaction between the agents and their decisions (Hotz,

2006). To perform the analysis of critical situations in politics

2.3 EMPIRICALREVIEW

In a Research work titled the use of social media for political participation among youths in Oyo

State,by (funmilayo O Omotayo, Mattew B Folorunso)This study investigated the use of social

media for political participation among youths in Oyo State, Nigeria; specifically, the types of

social media used for political participation, the types of political activities social media are used

for, as well as factors influencing the use of the media for political participation. Survey research

design was adopted for the study. Data was collected through a questionnaire from 322 youths in

three Nigerian universities. Findings reveal that social media was highly used by the youths for

political participation. Facebook was the most used, followed by Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter

and Yahoo Messenger respectively. Majorly, the youths used social media to participate in

political advocacy, political campaigns, communicating with politicians, political discussions,

monitoring and reporting electoral malpractices, public consultations, joining interest groups that

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engage in lobbying, blogging about political issues, and writing letters to public officials

respectively. Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, and computer self-

efficacy significantly influence the use of social media for political participation, which suggests

that these factors could be considered when promoting the use of social media for political

participation among youths. Given the growing popularity and penetration of social media and

the way they influence peoples’ lives, the empirical findings of this study add to understanding

how and why social media use will function in motivating citizens to be involved in political

activities.

According to Olaniru oluwatosin,Olatunji olusoji in a study on the influence of media on

political knowledge among undergraduate student in ibadan,Knowledge about politics and

government activities increases due to the socialization and enlightenment functions of the mass

media. Youths and students are the largest bloc of voters in Nigeria but seemingly least political

informed. This study examines the frequency of the forms of media accessed and level of

political knowledge among Nigerian students. It also assessed the relationships between political

knowledge and access to radio, television, newspaper, and social media. Moreover, itinvestigated

the predictive influence of the frequency of media access on Nigerian students’

politicalknowledge. The study adopted Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) to explain how

media is used to the advantage of people. Using cross-sectional survey research design, a

structured questionnaire was used to collect information on students’ demographic, frequency of

media access and knowledge of Nigerian politics from 246 randomly selected students of the

Polytechnic, Ibadan (Mean age is 25.07 years, SD = 6.23). Descriptive and inferential statistics

were used to analyze the data. Findings identified social media as the most frequently use media,

followed by radio, television and newspaper.31% of the respondents had very high political
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knowledge while 3% had no political knowledge. Access to radio is the only significant correlate

(r = 0.42, p<0.05) and independent predictor (β= 0.43, t=-3.98, p<0.05) of political knowledge

although access to radio, television, newspaper and social media are significant joint predictors

of political knowledge (R2= .18, F (4, 241) = 4.32). Therefore, the study concludes that radio is

the foremost source of political knowledge amongst undergraduate students in Ibadan, Nigeria.

In a research work titled the Influence of Social Media on Democratic Governance in Nigeria

By( Babaleye Taye, Ibitoye Pius)s, many things have been put in place to achieve a sustainable

democratic rule in Nigeria. The rule of law and good information management are sacrosanct to

the success of any democratic government. One popular channel used by the polity to address

pertinent political issues these days is the social media. The social media which are a fall out of

the new media—the internet, consist of such platforms as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp,

Instagram etc. under which citizens post messages on issues of corruption, terrorism, insurgency,

economic mismanagement and poor governance which are key factors affecting the society.

Their contents are user generated and do not go through the scrutiny of the gate keeper as is the

practice in the traditional media. In comparison to the traditional media. Social media are used as

free for all criticism platforms to the key players and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s fragile

democracy. Lately, in order to curb the abuse of social media powers the National Assembly

began debates on the introduction of a bill stipulating death penalty as punishment for

perpetrators of fake news aimed at denigrating high ranking political office holders in the

Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Though the proposed bill has received all round

condemnation, it is however an evidence of the pains being afflicted by negative and destructive

reports on social media against Nigerian politicians. The use of abusive words, deliberate

falsehood without any respect for the ethics of journalism practice is a major problem that
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government is contending with under the democratic rule in Nigeria. This article examines the

role played by the social media to enhance democratic rule in the country. A population of 200

respondents from both staff and students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti was used to gather

data. The article was framed on the uses and gratification and dependency theories. The Survey

research method was used to determine the influence of social media on democratic rule in

Nigeria. It was found that majority of respondents (95%) believed that social media, in spite of

their excesses play positive roles to ensure and enhance durable democracy in Nigeria.

According to Oluwasola Festus Obisesan in a study ofThe Social Media and Youth Participation

in the 2019 General Election in Nigeria This study examines the roles of social media on youth’s

political participation in the 2019 General Elections in Nigeria. It interrogates the roles played by

these communication tools in the emancipation and agency of youths while revealing the double-

edged implications the devices may have on the democratic processes and aspirants. The article

employs both primary and secondary methods of data sourcing. Primary data were obtained from

in-depth interviews with social media ‘influencers’ who played vital roles during the 2019

General Election in Nigeria. Further, data were obtained from selected social media accounts of

prominent politicians and analysed using content analysis. Secondary data were extracted from

books, articles, newspapers and magazines. Also, the study was contextualised using use and

gratification theory. The study concluded that social media played a vital role in the 2019

General Election in Nigeria. It revealed how social media contributed to citizens’ power and

agency through debates and narratives which were instrumental in agenda-setting for the ruling

class and citizens’ democratic expectations.

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According to Olanrewaju O. P. Ajakaiye in a study of The Impact of Social Media on Citizens'

Mobilization and Participation This study examines the impact of social media on citizens’

mobilization and participation in Nigeria’s elections with emphasis on political communication

as it affects participation in political activities, most especially in the 2011 general elections.

There have been controversial opinions on the role of the Mass Media in elections. Some

scholars have argued that the social media creates the platform for all to be part of democratic

governance through public opinions, while others think otherwise. The objective of this study is

to unfold the above discrepancies, using the 2011 General Elections as focus. The paper explains

the importance of social media in the electioneering process of Nigeria and suggests that political

participation will be more effective with the use of indirect political mobilization. The study

adopts primary and secondary methods of data collection. In the primary method, questionnaires

were administered to four hundred and fifty-two (452) respondents to find out if the social media

were effectively used in citizens’ mobilization and participation in the last Nigerian general

elections, while the Secondary data were sourced from journals, relevant academic textbooks,

newspapers and internet materials. The data generated were analysed descriptively using chi-

square method.One of the findings of the study is that the social media had positive influence to

some extent, on the outcome of the 2011 general elections in Nigeria, considering its usage by

various electoral stakeholders. It is therefore recommended that Social Media should be

encouraged in political mobilization and participation of citizens considering its unique

advantages to democratic consolidation in Nigeria.A research work of Aghogho Joshua Erubami

on Public Perception of Social Media Contributions to Political Participation Processes in Delta

State, Nigeria Shows that social media have become a critical component of Nigeria’s

democracy, with widely acclaimed potentials for influencing public civic engagement. However,

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the nature and direction of such influence remains a source of debate among researchers. This

study examined public perception of the contributions of social media to political participation

processes in Delta State, Nigeria. It adopted the survey method using a sample of 500

respondents selected through a multistage sampling technique. A likert scale questionnaire was

used to collect data which were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that

although the social media were perceived to have positively influenced Nigeria’s democracy by

enhancing the flow of political information and awakening public political consciousness, the

news and information being disseminated on social media platforms were noted to have

increased the spate of hate speech and stoked political unease. The study recommended that

citizen journalists should imbibe online responsibility and be sensitive to public needs and

expectations while using any of the social media platforms for political ends.

The research work of Dr. Ifeoma Vivian Dunu on Social Media And Gubernatorial Elections In

Nigeria ,This work is a conceptual discourse on the power of the media, especially in political

communicationand citizens‟ participation. The paper, leaning on the arguments of the theories of

participatory and deliberative democracy as well as the theories of communication and social

interaction, examines the different ways political stakeholders such as: The Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC), politicians/political parties, the electorates, and Civil Society

Organizations(CSOs), used the social media before, during and after the gubernatorial polls in

selected states in Nigeria for political participation and electioneering processes. Extant evidence

shows that the social media platforms have not only become tools for increased citizens‟ active

political participations, but have also become platforms for the spread of hate speeches; and

misinformation and/or fake news. Consequently, the paper concludes that with the General

Election coming up in 2019 and intense political activity on social networks it becomes
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important for political actors to begin to come to terms with the increasing citizens‟ power to

monitor election results and hold candidates accountable for previous mandate via different posts

and chats. They should therefore begin to harness the ample opportunities inherent in the social

media in defense of their political score cards and for a robust political engagement.

CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.0 INTRODUCTION

The research is set to analyze Social media influence on political participation of Osun State

Residents in the conduct of 2022 Governorship election. Thus the use of survey research method

was considered logical to be employed for this study. This chapter consists of the following:

research design, sources of data, instruments for data collection, population of the study,

sampling procedure, sample size determination, method of data analysis.

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

A research design is the set of methods and procedures used in collecting and analyzing

measures of variables specified in the research problems. There are various types of designs and

they are as follows; descriptive (e.g. case study, naturalistic observation, survey), correlational

(e.g. Case-control study, observational study), semi-experimental (e.g. field experiment, quasi-
22 | P a g e
experiment), experimental (experiment with random assignment), review (literature review and

systematic review), and meta-analysis.

Since this study is an audience research necessitating opinions, attitudes, motivations and

individualistic consideration, the survey method was considered most appropriate for the work.

Survey research method scientifically samples and interview people to analyse and report what

they said. It involves drawing up set of questions on various subjects or aspect of subject to

which selected member of a population are requested to react. This is done to discover the

relative incidence, distribution and inter-relations of sociological and psychological variables. In

using this research method, the researcher will select and draw sample from the total population

of respondents that participated in the Osun governorship order to discover the distribution and

inter-relations of sociological and psychological variables and also questionnaires will be

distributed to the selected population so as to get their opinions, attitudes, motivation and

individualistic considerations on the subject matter. After the information must have been

gotten, the quantitative design will be used for the analysis of data. This method is either

descriptive or experimental in nature. The descriptive study only establishes associations

between variable while the experimental study establishes causalities. Quantitative designs use

all formats, with a few mi or inter- disciplinary differences, of generating a hypothesis to be

proved or disproved. This hypothesis is proved mathematically and statistically. Hence, simple

tables, frequencies, numbers and percentage will be used in the calculating and analyzing data

and interpretation of the information collected in the study.

3.2. POPULATION OF STUDY

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 Creswell (2012) defines population as the entire group of individuals, events, or objects

that meet the criteria for inclusion in a study. The population is the group to which the researcher

would like to generalize the findings of their study. In order to draw valid conclusions about a

population, the researcher must use appropriate sampling techniques to ensure that the sample is

representative of the population.The number of residents who registered to participate in the

2022 election was 1.95 million. But only 1.52 million people collected their Permanent Voter

Card (PVC). Total polling units in Osun State is 3,763; total number of RAs is 332, while the

total number of registered voters is 1,955,657. The total number of votes cast is 823,124. Due to

inability reach them all, 500 respondents was choose randomly to participate in this study and

give their consent.

3.3. SAMPLING PROCEDURE

Sampling is the taking of any portion of a population as a representative of that

population or universe (Oduko 1992). The sample size for this study is 500 respondents and

these respondents will be selected from the total population size of about 3,416,959 residents of

Osun State using the random sampling technique. The non-probability sampling technique will

be used in selecting the respondents. Therein, participants will indicate the degree of accuracy

with which a statement describes him/her. This is purely random in manner with possible

permission from the audience.

3.3. SAMPLE SIZE

Sampling is a process of selecting a given number or any portion of that population for

the purpose of obtaining information for generalization about the large population Nwabuoke

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(2012:47). Sampling population is used to avoid possible errors in dealing with population. The

population size was narrowed down to determine the sample size. A statically formula was used

in determining the sample size.

Yaro Yamani formula as quoted in Nwabuokein (2012) was applied and it is stated as follows:

n= N

1+N (2)2

Where n= sample size

N=total population

1 is constant

E= the assume error margin or tolerable error which is taken as 5% (0.05)

n= N

1+N (e)2

N=823,124

E=0.05

823,124/1+823,124(0.05)^2

823,124/1+823,123(0.0025)

823,124/2,058

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n=399.7 approximately n=400

Sample size=400

3.4. INSTRUMENTATION

Okoro (2008) acknowledges that the questionnaire has substantial merits to weigh in its

favour for gathering information from people about their opinions, attitudes and behaviours on a

given phenomenon. The research instrument to be used is e-questionnaire, it consists of

questions to be answered by the respondents on their views about what is been asked.

3.5. VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF INSTRUMENT

According to Frankael and Wallen, (1996), validity refers to the degree to which any

inferences a researcher makes, based on the data he or she collects using a particular instrument,

is supported by evidence. Therefore, the coverage and relevance of the instruments to the

problem under study are subject to content validity. This entails the extent to which questions in

the instruments cover the ground to be explored. In order to realize the validity and reliability of

the instruments, the study was conducted involving 500 respondents. The aim of the pilot study

was to check the effectiveness of the instruments in tapping the required information for this

study. It is expected that the findings from the pilot study would reveal the necessity for the

researcher to alter some items, for instance, simplifying some of the terms.

3.6. METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION

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 Data were collected through the use of e-questionnaire; the researcher will distribute the

questionnaire to respondents on social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter through a

link generated.

3.7. METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS

Data analysis is a process that involves editing, coding, classifying and tabulating the

collected data (Kothari, 2004). In this study the researcher employed both qualitative and

quantitative data analysis techniques. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis

technique and frequencies, percentage and tests of associations were calculated and presented in

tables and correlation coefficient was calculated in order to determine the level of social media

influence on Osun State recidents during the conduct of 2022 governorship election.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

This chapter presents the analysis of data based on the research questions earlier presented

for the study and also give an analysis to the data gathered during the research.

4.1 DATA PRESENTATION

This chapter presents and analyses the data collected by the researcher in the course of the

study. It shows the computation and analysis of data using tables, frequency scores and simple

percentages

4.2 DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

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 The following analysis present the demographic variables of the respondents which range

from their gender, age, educational qualification, occupation, marital status. The data are

presented in the table below and frequency and percentage that were calculated.

Table 1. Gender

Gender Frequency Percentage

Male 200 50%

Female 200 50%

Total 400 100%

Table 1: The data shows that the respondents were female with a percentage of 50% while the

male account for a total number of 50% of the respondents. This implies that, there's was a

balance in gender participation.

Table 2: Age

Age Frequency Percentage

18-25 years 264 65.9%

26 – 30 years 67 16.7%

31 and above 69 17.4%

Total 400 100

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Table 2 : The data shows that the respondents were predominantly between the age bracket 18-

25years with a percentage of 65.9% while 26-30 years with a percentage of 16.7%. 31 and above

have a percentage of 17.4%. This implies that, the respondents with high percentage falls

between the age brack of 18- 25 years.

Table 3. Marital Status

Marital status Frequency Percentage

Single 322 80.4%

Married 75 18.8%

Divorced 3 0.8%

Total 400 100

Table 3 data shows that respondents with high participation are single with 80.4% while married

participants are with 18.8% and divorced are with 0.8%. This implies a high participation from

single participants.

Table 4: Educational Qualification

Education Qualification Frequency Percentage

Primary school certificate 0 0

Secondary school 17 4.3%

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 Tertiary Education 383 95.7

Total 400 100

Table 4: the data presented reveal that participants with Secondary School have a percentage of

4.3 % while tertiary education participants with a percentage of 95.7%. This implies a high

participation from respondents with tertiary education certificate.

Table 5. Religion

Religion Frequency Percentage

Christianity 240 60.1%

Islam 151 37.7%

Others 9 2.2%

Total 400 100

Table 5. Data shows that Christians participants with 60.1% while Islam cover a percentage of

37.7%. The remaining percentage are covered by other religion participants with a percentage of

2.2% . This implies that the religion with high participation are Christians.

Table 6. Occupation

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 Occupation Frequency Percentage

Self Employ 110 27.5%

Civil Servant 70 17.4%

Unemployed 12 2.9%

Students 208 52.2%

Total 400 100

Table 6 data shows the Occupation status of the respondents with student having a percentage of

52.2% while self employed 27.5%, civil Servant 17.4% and unemployed 2.9% . This implies that

the students have a large percentage of participants.

4.3 SECTION B: INFORMATION DATA

4.3.1 Research Question 1: Does osun electorates have access to social media?

Table 7: How many social media handle do you have ?

Response Frequency Percentage

1 15 3.7

2 29 7.2%

3 93 23.2%

4 and above 264 65.9%

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 Total 400 100

Table 7 data shows that 15 respondents with 3.7% have a social media account while, 29

respondents with 7.2% have 2 social media accounts. 93 respondents with 23.2% possessed 3

different social media accounts while 264 respondents with a percentage of 65.9% possessed

more than 4 different social media accounts. This implies high usage on the peart of the

respondents.

Table 8. Which social media networking do you possessed?

Response Frequency Percentage

Facebook 23 5.8%

Twitter 14 3.6%

WhatsApp 136 34.1%

YouTube 0 0

Instagram 35 8.7%

Tick-tock 14 3.6%

All 177 44.2%

Others 0 0

Total 400 100

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Table 8. Data shows that 23 respondents with 5.8% possessed Facebook as their only social

media handle while 14 respondents with 3.6% possessed Twitter as their sole social media

handle. 136 respondents with 34.1% possessed WhatsApp as their sole social media account

while 35 respondents with 8.7% possessed Instagram as their social media handle. 14

respondents with 3.6% possessed Tick-tock as their social media handle. 177 respondents with

44.2% possessed all the available social media.

Table 9. How often do you log in to your Social media handle?

Response Frequency Percentage

Everyday 388 97.1%

Once a week 12 2.9%

Once a month 0 0

Once a year 0 0

Total 400 100

Table 9 data shows that 388 respondents with 97.1% do log into their social media handle

everyday while 12 respondents with 2.9% log into their social media once in. Week.

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Table 10. What's your main purpose of using social media ?

Response Frequency Percentage

Communication and 296 73.9%

connecting with existing

friends

Meeting new people 29 7.2%

Political purposes 9 2.2

Others 67 16.7%

Total 400 100

Table 10 data shows that 296 of the respondents with 73.9% use social media to communicate

and connecting with existing friends, while, 29 respondents with 7.2% used social media to meet

new people. 9 respondents with 2.2% used social media for politicial purposes and 67

respondents with 16.7% use social media for other purposes.

4.3.2 Research Question 2: How does social media influence electorate voting pattern in

Osun State?

Table 11. I received a quick and efficient information about political candidates, their

policies and their campaign promises on social media during the Osun State 2022

gubernatorial election.

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 Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly agreed 156 39.1%

Agree 162 40.6%

Strongly disagree 0 0

Disagree 49 12.3%

Neutral 32 8%

Total 400 100

Table 11 data shows that 156 respondents with 39.1% strongly agreed that social media enables a

quick information about politicial candidate, their policies and their campaign promises on

during the Osun State gubernatorial election. 162 of the respondents with 40.6% agree while 49

of the respondents with 12.3% disagree with the the perspective of receiving information about

he gubernatorial election. 32 of the respondents with 8% remain neutral.

Table 12. Social media encourages voters registration and turn out in the Osun State 2022

gubernatorial election

Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly Agreed 165 41.3%

Agree 264 45.7%

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 Strongly disagree 12 2.9%

Disagree 12 2.9%

Neutral 29 7.2%

Total 400 100

Table 12 data show that 165 respondents with 41.3% strongly agreed that social media

encourages voters registration and turn out in the Osun State 2022 gubernatorial election, while

264 respondents with 45.7% agree that social media encourage voters turn out. 12 respondents

with 2.9% strongly disagree and 29 respondents with 7.2% remain Neutral.

Table 13. Social media content influence my voting decision in Osun State 2022

gubernatorial election

Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly Agree 116 29%

Agree 104 26.1%

Disagree 96 23.9%

Strongly disagree 20 5.1

Neutral 64 15.9%

Total 400 100

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Table 13 data show 116 respondents with 29% strongly disagree that social media content

influence their voting decision in Osun State 2022 gubernatorial election, while, 104 respondents

with 26.1% agree. 96 respondents with 23.9% disagree that social media content influence their

voting decision in Osun State. While 64 respondents with 15.9% stayed neutral.

Table 14. I have seen false and misleading information on social media about Osun State

politicians

Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly agree 151 37.7%

Agree 168 42%

Strongly disagree 14 3.6

Disagree 35 8.7%

Neutral 32 8%

Total 400 100

Table 14 shows that 151 respondents with 37.7% strongly agreed to have seen false and

misleading information on social media a about Osun State politicians. 168 of the respondents

with 42% agree. 35 respondents with 8.7% disagree to have seen false and misleading

information on social media about Osun State politicians while 32 respondents with 8% remain

neutral.

37 | P a g e
4.3.3 Research Question 3: How did social media influence the level of political

participation among Osun residents?

Table 15: My voting decision in 2022 Osun State gubernatorial election was influenced by

social media platforms

Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly Agree 78 19.6%

Agree 130 32.6%

Strongly disagree 38 9.4%

Disagree 72 18.1%

Neutral 81 20.3%

Total 400 100

Table 15 data shows that 78 respondents with 19.6% strongly agree that, their voting decision in

2022 Osun State gubernatorial was influenced by social media platforms whole 130 respondents

with 32.6% agree and 72 respondents with 18.1% disagree. 81 respondents with 29.3% remain

neutral.

Table 16: My voting decision has influenced me to participate in Osun State online political

campaigns and rallies

Response Frequency Percentage

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 Strongly agree 67 16.7%

Agree 165 41.3%

Strongly disagree 23 5.8%

Disagree 81 20.3%

Neutral 64 15.9%

Total 400 100

Table 16 data shows that 67 respondents with 16.7% strongly agree that voting decision has

influence them to participate in Osun State online political campaigns and rallies. 165

respondents with 41.3% agree. While 81 respondents with 20.3% disagree. 64 respondents with

15.9% decided to remain neutral.

Table 17. I participated by sharing my opinions contributing to debates and engaging in

decisions on various political issues in Osun State

Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly agree 67 16.7%

Agree 174 43.5%

Strongly disagree 12 2.9%

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 Disagree 49 12.3%

Neutral 98 24.6%

Total 400 100

Table 17 data show that 67 respondents with 16.7% strongly agree that, they particpated by

sharing opinions contributing to debates and engaging in decisions on various political issues in

Osun State. 174 respondents with 43.5% agreed and 49 respondents with 12.3% disagree. 98

respondents with 24.6% decided to remain neutral to the question.

Table 18. Did you find social media posts regarding the election campaign to be reliable

and trustworthy?

Response Frequency Percentage

Strongly agree 67 16.7%

Agree 168 42%

Strongly disagree 9 2.2%

Disagree 52 13%

Neutral 104 26.1%

Total 400 100

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Table 18 data shows that 67 respondents with 16.7% strongly Agreed that they find social media

posts regarding the election campaign to be reliable and trustworthy. 168 respondents with 42%

agree. 52 respondents with 13% disagree with the question. 104 respondents with 26.1% remain

neutral.

4.4 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

The data collected in this study shows that, the respondents were female with a percentage of

50% while the male account for a total number of 50% of the respondents. This implies that,

there's was a balance in gender participation. Also, the age bracket was analysed and the data

shows that the respondents were predominantly between the age bracket 18-25years with a

percentage of 65.9% while 26-30 years with a percentage of 16.7%. 31 and above have a

percentage of 17.4%. This implies that, the respondents with high percentage falls between the

age brack of 18- 25 years. The marital status of the respondents was also considered, it reveal

that respondents with high participation are single with 80.4% while married participants are

with 18.8% and divorced are with 0.8%. This implies a high participation from single

participants. An analysis was conducted on the education status of the respondents and data

collected reveal that participants with Secondary School have a percentage of 4.3 % while

tertiary education participants with a percentage of 95.7%. This implies a high participation from

respondents with tertiary education certificate. The religious aspect of the respondents was also

analysed, the data shows that Christians participants with 60.1% while Islam cover a percentage

of 37.7%. The remaining percentage are covered by other religion participants with a percentage

of 2.2% . This implies that the religion with high participation are Christians. The occupation

status, data shows the Occupation status of the respondents with student having a percentage of

41 | P a g e
52.2% while self employed 27.5%, civil Servant 17.4% and unemployed 2.9% . This implies that

the students have a large percentage of participants.

Research Question 1: Does osun electorates have access to social media?

Table 7 data shows that 15 respondents with 3.7% have a social media account while, 29

respondents with 7.2% have 2 social media accounts. 93 respondents with 23.2% possessed 3

different social media accounts while 264 respondents with a percentage of 65.9% possessed

more than 4 different social media accounts. This implies high usage on the peart of the

respondents.

Table 8. Data shows that 23 respondents with 5.8% possessed Facebook as their only social

media handle while 14 respondents with 3.6% possessed Twitter as their sole social media

handle. 136 respondents with 34.1% possessed WhatsApp as their sole social media account

while 35 respondents with 8.7% possessed Instagram as their social media handle. 14

respondents with 3.6% possessed Tick-tock as their social media handle. 177 respondents with

44.2% possessed all the available social media.

Table 9 data shows that 388 respondents with 97.1% do log into their social media handle

everyday while 12 respondents with 2.9% log into their social media once in. Week.

Table 10 data shows that 296 of the respondents with 73.9% use social media to communicate

and connecting with existing friends, while, 29 respondents with 7.2% used social media to meet

new people. 9 respondents with 2.2% used social media for politicial purposes and 67

respondents with 16.7% use social media for other purposes.

42 | P a g e
Research Question 2: How does social media influence electorate voting pattern in Osun

State?

Table 11 data shows that 156 respondents with 39.1% strongly agreed that social media enables a

quick information about politicial candidate, their policies and their campaign promises on

during the Osun State gubernatorial election. 162 of the respondents with 40.6% agree while 49

of the respondents with 12.3% disagree with the the perspective of receiving information about

he gubernatorial election. 32 of the respondents with 8% remain neutral.

Table 12 data show that 165 respondents with 41.3% strongly agreed that social media

encourages voters registration and turn out in the Osun State 2022 gubernatorial election, while

264 respondents with 45.7% agree that social media encourage voters turn out. 12 respondents

with 2.9% strongly disagree and 29 respondents with 7.2% remain Neutral.

Table 13 data show 116 respondents with 29% strongly disagree that social media content

influence their voting decision in Osun State 2022 gubernatorial election, while, 104 respondents

with 26.1% agree. 96 respondents with 23.9% disagree that social media content influence their

voting decision in Osun State. While 64 respondents with 15.9% stayed neutral.

Table 14 shows that 151 respondents with 37.7% strongly agreed to have seen false and

misleading information on social media a about Osun State politicians. 168 of the respondents

with 42% agree. 35 respondents with 8.7% disagree to have seen false and misleading

information on social media about Osun State politicians while 32 respondents with 8% remain

neutral.

43 | P a g e
Research Question 3: How did social media influence the level of political participation

among Osun residents?

Table 15 data shows that 78 respondents with 19.6% strongly agree that, their voting decision in

2022 Osun State gubernatorial was influenced by social media platforms whole 130 respondents

with 32.6% agree and 72 respondents with 18.1% disagree. 81 respondents with 29.3% remain

neutral.

Table 16 data shows that 67 respondents with 16.7% strongly agree that voting decision has

influence them to participate in Osun State online political campaigns and rallies. 165

respondents with 41.3% agree. While 81 respondents with 20.3% disagree. 64 respondents with

15.9% decided to remain neutral.

Table 17 data show that 67 respondents with 16.7% strongly agree that, they particpated by

sharing opinions contributing to debates and engaging in decisions on various political issues in

Osun State. 174 respondents with 43.5% agreed and 49 respondents with 12.3% disagree. 98

respondents with 24.6% decided to remain neutral to the question.

Table 18 data shows that 67 respondents with 16.7% strongly Agreed that they find social media

posts regarding the election campaign to be reliable and trustworthy. 168 respondents with 42%

agree. 52 respondents with 13% disagree with the question. 104 respondents with 26.1% remain

neutral.

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 CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter summarizes the research work, conclusion as well as recommendations on the

project topic: social media influence on political participation of Osun State Residents in the

conduct of 2022 Governorship election. Recommendation for further study will also be made.

5.1 SUMMARY

Social media has had a significant impact on the political participation of Osun State

residents in the 2022 Governorship election. The use of social media platforms such as

Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp has enabled residents to engage in political discussions, share

information, and mobilize support for their preferred candidates. Social media has also provided

a platform for political candidates to reach out to voters and communicate their campaign

messages. However, the impact of social media on political participation is not without its

challenges. The spread of fake news and misinformation on social media has the potential to

influence the outcome of the election and undermine the democratic process. Therefore, it is

important for residents to be critical consumers of information and for political candidates to use
45 | P a g e
social media responsibly. Social media has played a significant role in shaping the political

landscape of Osun State during the 2022 Governorship election.

This research has examined the impact of social media on the political participation of Osun

State residents during the 2022 Governorship election. The study found that social media

platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp have played a significant role in shaping the

political landscape of Osun State. Residents have used social media to engage in political

discussions, share information, and mobilize support for their preferred candidates. Political

candidates have also used social media to reach out to voters and communicate their campaign

messages. However, the study also identified challenges associated with social media use,

including the spread of fake news and misinformation.

5.2 CONCLUSION

From the findings of this study, the following conclusion can be made:

 social media has had a significant impact on the political participation of Osun

State residents during the 2022 Governorship election.

 Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp have provided

residents with a platform to engage in political discussions, share information, and

mobilize support for their preferred candidates.

 Political candidates have also used social media to reach out to voters and

communicate their campaign messages.

46 | P a g e
  The study also identified challenges associated with social media use, including

the spread of fake news and misinformation.

5.3 RECOMMENDATION

From the findings of this study, the following recommendations are considered important:

 Residents of Osun State should be critical consumers of information on social media

and should verify the accuracy of information before sharing it.

 Political candidates should use social media responsibly and avoid spreading fake

news and misinformation.

 The government of Osun State should develop policies and guidelines to regulate the

use of social media during elections.

 Civil society organizations should engage in voter education and sensitization

programs to promote responsible social media use among residents.

 Social media platforms should develop tools and mechanisms to identify and remove

fake news and misinformation from their platforms.

5.4 SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER STUDIES

This research has provided valuable insights into the impact of social media on political

participation in Osun State. However, there are several areas that require further research. Some

suggestions for further studies include:

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  A comparative study of the impact of social media on political participation in other

states in Nigeria.

 An investigation into the role of social media influencers in shaping political

discourse during elections.

 A study of the effectiveness of social media in promoting voter education and

awareness.

 An analysis of the ethical and legal implications of social media use during elections.

 A longitudinal study of the impact of social media on political participation over time.

5.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This research has provided valuable insights into the impact of social media on political

participation in Osun State. However, there are several limitations to the study that should be

acknowledged. The study have several limitations. The study relied on self-reported data from

residents, which may be subject to bias and inaccuracies. The study focused only on the 2022

Governorship election in Osun State and may not be generalizable to other elections or other

states in Nigeria. The study did not explore the impact of social media on political participation

among residents who do not use social media. By acknowledging these limitations, an

understanding of the scope and generalizability of the study's findings and identify areas for

further research.

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 OSUN STATE UNIVERSITY, IKIRE CAMPUS

COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES AND CULTURE, FACULTY OF CULTURE,

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS AND COMMUNICATION

Dear sir/ma

INTRODUCTION LETTER

I am currently conducting a research titled "Social media influence on political participation

of Osun State Residents in the conduct of 2022 Governorship election.The study is in partial

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fulfilment of the award of B.A in Linguistics and Communication, Osun State University. I

solicit your cooperation in completing the attached Questionnaires on the research project. All

the information gathered will be confidential and only be used for academic purposes.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, and I look forward to receiving a completed

response from you.

SECTION A: DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Please tick the appropriate boxes where applicable.

1. Gender: a. Male [. ] b. Female ( )

2 Age: a. 18-25 years ( ) b. 26 – 30 years ( ) c. 31 and above ( )

3. Marital status: a. Single ( ) b. married ( ) c. divorced ( )

4. Educational Qualification: (a) Primary school certificate ( ) (b) Secondary school certificate (

) (c) Tertiary Education ( )

5. Religion: (a) Christianity ( ) (b)Islam ( ) (c) Others (specify)________________

6. Occupation: (a) Self employed ( ) (b) Civil servant ( ) (c) Unemployed ( )

SECTION B: SECTION B: Does osun electorates have access to social media?

Please tick the appropriate boxes where applicable.

7. How many social media handle do you have ?

a)1 ( ) b) 2 ( ) c)3 ( )d) 4( ) and above ( )

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8. Which social media networking do you possessed?

a)Facebook ( ) b) Twitter ( ) c)WhatsApp ( ) D) YouTube ( ) E)Instagram ( ) F) Tiktok ( )

others ( )

9. How often do you log in to your Social media handle?a) Everyday ( ) b) once a week ( ) c)

Once a month ( ) d) once a year ( )

10. What's your main purpose of using social media ?

a) Communication and connecting with existing friend ( ) b). Meeting new people ( ) C)

Political purposes ( ) d)Others ( )

SECTION C: How does social media influence electorate voting pattern in Osun State?

Please tick the appropriate boxes where applicable.

Key: : SA- Strongly Agree, N-Neutral, D- Disagree SD- Strongly disagree

S/N Item SA N SD D

1 I received a quick and efficient information

about political candidates, their policies,

and their campaign promises on social

media during the osun state 2022

gubernatorial election.

2 Social media encourage voters registration

and turn out in the osun state 2022

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 gubernatorial election.

3 Social medial content influence my voting

decision in osun state 2022 gubernatorial

election .

4 I have seen false and misleading

information on social media about osun

state politicians

5 I have changed my mind about a osun state

political candidate based on some news I

saw online

Section D: How did social media influence the level of political participation among Osun

residents ?

Please tick the appropriate boxes where applicable.

Key: SA- Strongly Agree, N- Neutral, SD- Strongly disagree, D- Disagree

S/N Items SA N SD D

1 My voting decisionin 2022 osun state gubernatorial

election was influenced by social media platforms

2 My voting decision has influenced me to

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 participate in osun state online political campaigns

and rallies

3 I have used social media platforms like Facebook,

Instagram and WhatsApp to reasearch and learn

more about political candidates and their political

ambition in osun state

4 I participated by sharing my opinions, contributing

to debates and engaging in discussions on various

political issues in osun state

5 I did not rely on some social media platforms for

effective news during the 2022 gubernatorial

election

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