Assessment of NTA Voter Education Programmes on the Awareness and Participation in 2023 General Elections among Residents of Ugheli South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria
Keywords:
voter education, Political Participation, election, Mass Media,, NTA, Awareness.Abstract
Background: Political education is a prerequisite for enhanced political skills, knowledge and participation in democracies. To ensure success in Nigerian elections, the government and the electoral agencies devote much time to the education of Nigerian citizens through mass media mobilisation programmes.
Objectives: The study aimed to ascertain whether NTA voter education programmes have influenced the political awareness of Ugheli South Local Government Area of Delta State residents and their participation in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Methodology: The study adopted a survey research design. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 384 respondents, while a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analysed using percentages, mean and standard deviation.
Results: The result of this study showed that the level of exposure of residents of Ugheli South LGA to NTA voter education programmes was very high, that the programmes increased the awareness of residents of Ugheli South LGA on political issues and positively influenced their attitudes and participation in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Contribution to knowledge: This study has provided first-hand information and understanding of how NTA voter education programmes have influenced the political awareness of residents of Ugheli South LGA and their positive attitude and active participation in the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Conclusion: This study concluded that NTA voter education programmes are a very effective strategy for informing the masses about political activities and influencing them to participate actively in elections.
Recommendation: There is still a need for constant voter education programmes and political sensitisation of Nigerian citizens through NTA, other mass media, and new media to sustain the gains made.
References
Adamson, G. (2006). Immigrants and political participation: background, theory and empirical suggestions. A discussion paper of fundamental rights agency, Vienna, 62-69.
Agba, P.C. (2007). Role of mass media in electioneering campaign in a developing context. In I.E Nwosu (Eds), Communication for sustainable human development, Enugu, African Council for Communication Education. ACCE Thematic Book, 41-56.
Aghamelu, F. C. (2012). The role of the mass media in the Nigerian electoral process. Ujah: Unizik
Ahmad, T., Aima, A., & Muhammad, I. (2019). The use of social media on political participation among university students: An analysis of survey results from rural pakistan. SAGE Open, 1-9. DOI:10.1177/2158244019864484
Akinfeleye, R. (2002). Role of the mass media in election process. A keynote address presented at the 29th AGM of the association of advertising practitioners council of Nigeria (APCON) held at Ibadan, Monday April 29, 163-183.
Amaechi, O.R, Innocent, E.O & Ikechukwu, S. (2018). Political education in Nigeria: The Mobilisation theory thesis Perspective. Arts and Humanities Open Access Journal, 2(5), 246‒256.
Dalton, R.J. (1984). Cognitive mobilisation and partisan dealignment in advanced industrial
democracy. Journal of Politics, 46(1), 264–284.
Denny K & Doyle O. (2008). Political interest, cognitive ability and personality: determinant of voter’s turnout in Britain. British Journal of Political Science, 38(2),291–310.
Gastil, J. (2004). Adult civic education through the national issues forum: developing democratic
habits and dispositions through public deliberation. Adult Education Quarterly, 54(4), 308–328.
Iredia, T.O. (2007). Information dissemination, voters’ mobilization and election monitoring in
Journal of Arts and Humanities, 4(3), 9-10.
Krejcie, R.V., & Morgan, D.W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(6), 607-610.
National Populations Commission, NPC. (2006). 2006 Census Figure. Abuja: NPC.
Nie, N.H., Junn, J., & Stehlik, B. (1996). Education and democratic citizens in America. Chicago:
Nigeria: a road map to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. In M. Mbolio & H. Batta (Eds.), The companion to Communication and development: Essays in honour of Prof. Des Wilson (pp. 31 – 340). Uyo: BSM Resources Ltd.
Nigerian electoral process. In M. Ogun (Ed.), Improving the fortunes and destiny of Nigeria through the ballot box. Abuja: Publication of the Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria.
Ochonogor, C. I. & Amadi, R.N. (2019). Interactive broadcast programmes and citizens’ participation in the 2015 general elections: a study of audiences in Rivers State, south-south Nigeria. International Journal of Arts and Humanities (IJAH), 8(3), 33 -50.
Ochonogor, C. I., & Ukaegbu, E. C. (2010). Communicating with rural dwellers for politicalelections in Nigeria. In G. B. Okon & A. J. Udoudo (Eds.), Political communication in Nigeria: A book of reading (pp.161-174). Port Harcourt: Amethyst & Colleagues.
Ochonogor, C., & Omego, C. (2012). The mass media and the challenges of election crises in
Okon, G.B. (2014). Voter education by Nigerian broadcast media: a normative appraisal of three radio stations in port Harcourt mtropolis. Global media Journal-Indian edition, 5(2),1-23.
Tan Cho W. (1999). Naturalization, socialization, participation: Immigrants and non-voting. Journal of Politics, 61(4),1140–1155.
Umechukwu, P.O. (2004). The press and 2003 general elections in Nigeria. Enugu: Afrika-link Communications Limited.
University of Chicago Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Chinwe Mirian Odionye, Mathew Danjuma Yare, Ezinne Lilian Wesley Okachi, Christopher Justice Njoku, Vincent Onyeaghanachi Odoh, Holiness Jonny
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
