CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
An audience is a group of people who receive information from a source. In communication terms the audience can be referred to as the receivers of the information. When information leaves the sender (TV, radio, internet) it goes to the receiver which is the decoder of the message. This study analyzes the responses and ratings of the 2019 Nigerian presidential election, carefully examining the audience as the major initiators of feedback. An audience is the significant portion of correspondence measure. By media audience we mean the beneficiaries of Mass Media messages. There is the audience of paper, TV, radio, theater, film and non-broadcast media. The messages of TV papers and film and so forth Political decision is the way toward picking pioneers in a popularity based cycle where a genuine difference in government is naturally permitted. In a general sense of description, an election is the act of choosing an individual deemed suitable for a particular position or office of leadership. In a liberal democracy like Nigeria, election is the best alternative to change a government intermittently. It does not only promote leadership change but also it encourages accountability in leadership. It allows for participation and it helps to reside power to the people. To be precise, elections are the best means to make the sovereign power of the masses known. The people have the political right to choose who they want to be governed by in an unpaid, transparent and accountable conduct called „election‟. Therefore, elections constitute an essential principle in any liberal democracy. Election holding in democratic societies are very essential because it is through its conduct that the expression of the voters shown through their examination of legitimacy and leadership posterity. This is a method of rebuking, resting capacity in a ruler that is prominently acknowledged and catapulting a disliked pioneer. This method of election conduction if organized effectively is devoid of all forms of mutiny or violence and any appearance of disorder, confusion or conglomeration in a system hence it is represented
by the peaceful transference of authority from one administration as long as the entire process is completely without any form of election rigging or malpractice. The process of election is one popularly known to draw out a large number of people from the comfort of their homes to the ballot boxes and INEC approved polling units where the people according to the rule of democracy have the right and the power to vote and elect which electoral candidate they want to lead them. This research analyzed the method of holding the 2019 Presidential Elections, the outcomes and interpretation of the voting trend and its effects, also analyzing the audience rating in Lagos state. The last election held in Nigeria was in the democratic presidential election held on February 16, 2019 and is the sixth of its kind since the hand over from the military rule by General Abdu Salam Abubakar on May 29, 1999. It was then that Nigeria migrated from the military rule to democracy. In order to be elected in the first round the President of Nigeria is elected using a changed two-round method. In at least 24 of the 36 states, a candidate must obtain a plurality vote of more than 25 percent of the vote. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round is held. Although there were about 73 political candidates in the 2019 presidential elections, the electoral race was majorly centered on the two Fulani Muslims, President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, respectively, of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Democratic Party of the Peoples (PDP). The elections were mostly peaceful and conducive to the conduct of fair elections, African Union representatives said The electoral commission also identified the elections as mostly peaceful. The 2019 elections were one of the most tranquil presidential elections to have ever been conducted in Nigeria after the April 2011 election, although it still had traces of violence in some states, compared to the characteristics of some previous election behaviors, the election was on the right side unlike the previous 2007 election were over 1000 people were killed in election protests. Although the election atmosphere was duly observed by a greater percentage of the population, immediately following the elections there were claims of widespread fraud by the opposition. Accusations of ballot box snatching, vote-trading and impersonation were included in the statements. There were also reports that police uncovered caches of explosives there. Following all these are the speculations among the country‟s people as to whether the election was actually “free and
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fair” or not. These speculations arose as a result of the INEC‟s postponement of the initial date for the announcement of the election results. Some were of the opinion that the election was rigged, a lesser population believe that the Incumbent President deserves his second tenure. The aim of the research is find out the general opinion of the people of Lagos state in respect to the 2019 presidential election and to make recommendations on areas that need to be readjusted and improved upon against the 2023 presidential elections. The analysis also found the voting trend in Nigeria, where social media and news reports decide the parameters used by voters to elect their president.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The 2019 Nigerian presidential election was previously scheduled to take place on the 16 February but was later postponed to 23 February, citing logistical problems in bringing voting materials on time to polling stations. In some places, the vote was delayed until
th February, 2019. As result of this postponement of election and delay in the voting process, many citizens took their social media page, mainstream media vis a vis interpersonal communication to protest against the postponement and delay. While some were in support of the postponement, many see it as a way the incumbent government exercised the power of incumbency. Despite barrages of media protest, the election has come and gone and a new democratically elected government has been sworn in. This raises the question of how the people of Nigeria specifically Lagos state rate the election process, if it is one characterized by dominance of power of incumbency or guided by the principle of free and fair election. This, if not looked into, may be as blueprint to other elections. Thereby making or marring the election processes more especially 2023 presidential election. Hence this study is set to establish the audience rating of the 2019 Nigerian presidential race in Lagos state.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The primary target of this study is to examine the audience of the 2019 Nigerian presidential election in Lagos state. The aim of the paper is to provide a qualitative
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analysis of the audience rating of the 2019 presidential election in Nigeria. Specifically, the study sought to: I. To establish the audience rating of the 2019 Nigerian presidential election. II. To analyze the extent to which the audience rating affects the turn out of the presidential election results. III. To identify factors that influence the audience rating of the Presidential elections held in Nigeria.
1.4 Research Questions
I. What is the audience rating of the 2019 Nigerian Presidential election in Lagos state? II. To what extent does the audience rating affect the turn out of the presidential election results? III. What are the factors that influence the audience rating of the Presidential elections held in Nigeria?
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study on the audience rating of the 2019 Nigerian presidential election covers a sample size population of the citizens of Lagos state, Nigeria. This state was chosen for this study because of the researcher‟s proximity to the state.
1.7 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study is viewed from three perspectives: empirical, theoretical and professional. Empirically, this study will provide statistical data on the rating and practices in Nigeria during 2019 presidential election. Unarguably, this work will add to the pool of empirical literature on the rating of presidential election in Nigeria Theoretically, the study will provide a platform for the researcher to test the suitability of some communication and social science theories in perception and opinion formation.
The academic community will benefit immensely from the findings of this study. Unarguably, researcher conducting studies in similar areas will use this study as a source of literature material. Finally, Nigerians will through the findings of this study understand the importance of post-election studies at it will help both government and INEC in policy formulation.
1.10Definition of Terms These are “labels” we put on a phenomenon that enables us to line separate observations and to make generalization. (Louise G. White, Political analysis, 2 nd ed. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks Cole, 1990). All the concepts used in this work are defined and explained accordingly without ambiguity. I. Audience: The Lagos state populace who are expose to media. II. Rating: The percentage of respondents to an opinion on their perception of the 2019 Presidential election.
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III. Audience Rating: A figure based on statistical sampling indicating the flow and proportion of the opinion of the total electorate in Lagos state. IV. Government: A body of elected representatives appointed to run and manage the affairs of a society, community or political unit. V. Election: A deliberate process that leads to casting votes in order to select a leader for a political office. VI. Voting: An action carried out by electorates during an election to select election candidates into a high office or position. VII. Politics: the study of government of states and other political units. It can also be seen as a research and occupation dedicated to government and political affairs. VIII. Free and fair: The generic term used to identify the general and expected conduct of elections. The definition is a mixture of two words: “free” and “fair”, free in the sense that elections should cost nothing and fair meaning that elections should be devoid of any form of partiality.
IX. Public: A population of individuals in civil affairs or office affairs who identify it and coordinate themselves to resolve it in the face of a similar issue. X. Opinion: A belief or perception, often prejudicial that is shared by most people without any form of proof or certainty. XI. Perspective: The appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer. XII. Communication: An understandable interaction between people on a common issue with the aim of gaining information about a particular topic. It involves interaction with a person or people with the profit of feedback.
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