Social Media and 2015 Election in Nigeria

Abstract Submission

Sub theme: Social Media and the 2015 Electioneering Campaigns in Nigeria

An Evaluation of Public Reaction via Social Media on the Use of the Card Reader (CR) Machine for Conducting 2015 Elections in Nigeria.

By

Mr. John O. Ogi,

Dept of Mass Comm.

Benue State University, Makurdi

Email: ogijohnliv@yahoo.com

Tel: +234 7035592020

 And

Mr. Aye, Aye Henshaw,

Cross River Broadcasting Corporation

Email: ayehenshawjnr@yahoo.com

Tel: +2348037134217

As the society get more complex and interest shift from issues to issues, technology has continued to revolutionise the communication frontier and other aspects of the society have continue to witness technological sophistication and development. The 2015 general elections witnessed and ushered in a new era of technological advancement with the proposed utilization of the Cared Reader Machine (CRM) for the conduct of the elections. The use of the CRM by INEC for the elections sparked controversies and several arguments in different quarters, mostly social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, 2go, YouTube witnessed heavy verbal wrestle for or against the proposed used of the CRM. Using the Survey and Content analysis with 400 respondents purposively selected across four states, this study finds that most Facebook users wanted the card reader because of the rigidity and technicality encapsulated into the build up of the gadget which resist manipulation. few comments on Twitter pointed to the fact that majority of Nigerians who constitute a large population of voters during the elections are technological illiterates who have little or no knowledge of how to use such digital device, furthermore the fear that majority of the voting areas lack electricity to power the machines and the time frame for which the INEC have to mobilise manpower. Relatively most voters through the social media objected to the use of the machine because they don’t have the temporal voter’s card as such the use of the machine will automatically disenfranchise them. However most of the respondents supported the use of the electronic accreditation machine because they believe it to be the only way to stop several forms of electoral malpractices associated with the non use of a dictating machine which will check such malpractices. The study concludes that the use of the CRM was very successful and the study recommends that the Nigerian government and all stake holders must work hard to implement full electronic voting in Nigeria for the future.