Influence of Social Media: The Response of the Electorates to the 2022 Continuous Voters Registration in Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, the continuous voters’ registration was conducted in 2022 as part of preparation for the 2023 general elections. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise was meant for the registration of citizens who turned 18 years of age after the last registration exercise; or those who for one reason or another could not register in the previous exercises, or those whose voters cards are defaced, or those who want to change their voting addresses or those who want to correct some information on their voters cards. This study examined the influence of social media on the response of the electorates to the continuous voters’ registration exercise. The research method adopted that was the survey research method. The researcher adopted the survey research method in carrying out this study. Questionnaire was structured and administered to the sample of the study. Findings from the study showed that the electorates in Nigeria attach significant level of credibility to social media messages on the continuous voters’ registration exercise, and that they had significant level of awareness on social media messages on continuous voters’ registration exercise. The study recommended that stakeholders and government should ensure proper awareness through social media concerning the need to participate in political exercises like the continuous voters’ registration exercise and also to use it for the purposes of voting in elections.

Key words: Influence, Social Media, Electorates, Continuous Voters’ Registration