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ASSESSMENT OF THE PERCEPTION OF RIVERS STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION RESULTS BY FACEBOOK USERS

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the perception of Rivers State Gubernatorial election results by Facebook users. The specific objectives of this study were to: find out if Rivers State gubernatorial election results were published on Facebook; and also ascertain the Port Harcourt Facebook users’ perception of the Rivers State gubernatorial election results on Facebook among others. To do these, the researcher adopted a survey design and simple random sampling where 384 subjects were sampled and 370 used for data analysis. Based on the foregoing, the findings showed that Rivers’ gubernatorial election results were published on Facebook ward by ward. It also showed that Port Harcourt Facebook users’ perception was that the results of Rivers gubernatorial election in the 2019 election were published by party faithful and loyalists; and that the results published on Facebook were not the actual results declared in some of the wards; hence, did not represent the will of the masses. Following the findings of this research work, the researcher recommended that INEC establish guidelines for the use of Facebook and the social media generally as a political communication tool in Nigeria. Modalities should be put in place to systematically verify information reported by citizen observers through Facebook and other social media platforms and that INEC establish a social media tracking center to monitor, collate, and interpret trends and reports during elections.

KEYWORD: Electioneering, Election Rigging, Social Media, and Audience Perception

SUNDAY S. MANDAH And WISDOM H. TASIE

WORLD ATLAS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATION & MANAGEMENT. VOL 8 NO 1