MASS MEDIA, ELECTORAL VIOLENCE AND VOTER TURNOUT IN NIGERIA: ISSUES FOR POLICYACTIONS

This paper highlights the significant role that the media play in swaying public opinion which in turn affects voters’ behaviour. Issues of voters’ apathy or low turnout because of social media reportage of violence, before, during and after elections has been documented. Incidences of political assassinations, ballot box snatching, thuggery and heavy mobilization of security personnel are reported, which forms an impression with suggestive tendencies. As such, people become apprehensive with election related violence when repeatedly reported by the media. The paper therefore proffers those legislative intervention and policy options to address the issues under discuss: The National Assembly, through its Committees, should mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to liaise with the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) with a view to improving professionalism in reportage, particularly on electoral related matters, amend the electoral law to include automatic disqualification of candidates of political parties found culpable of electoral violence and thuggery during party primary elections or in the general elections and mandate the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to float a non-stop voter education programme and security campaigns before, during and after elections.