Project – Social Media Political Mobilisation and Youth Electoral Participation in Nigeria

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Political participation is a fundamental component of democratic governance because democracy depends not only on the existence of political institutions but also on the willingness and ability of citizens to participate in political processes. Political participation encompasses a range of activities through which citizens attempt to influence political decisions, including voting, campaigning, political discussion, contacting political representatives, joining political organisations and engaging in collective political action. Verba, Schlozman and Brady (1995) argue that political participation provides citizens with opportunities to influence governmental decisions and to communicate their interests to political authorities. In contemporary democracies, therefore, meaningful participation remains essential to political legitimacy, accountability and representation.

The importance of political participation is particularly significant during elections because elections provide citizens with an institutionalised opportunity to determine who occupies public office and to influence the direction of government. The electoral process allows citizens to translate political preferences into political choices through voting and other forms of electoral engagement. According to Norris (2002), elections are central mechanisms through which democratic systems generate political representation and accountability. However, the quality of democracy is affected not simply by the conduct of elections but also by the degree to which citizens are informed, interested and willing to participate in the electoral process.

Young people constitute an important segment of the electorate in democratic societies because they represent both the present and future of political participation. Their involvement in elections can influence electoral outcomes, political party strategies and the development of democratic political culture. The United Nations (2016) notes that young people represent a major constituency whose political participation is important for inclusive and sustainable democratic development. In Nigeria, where young people constitute a substantial proportion of the population, youth electoral participation has become an important subject of political and academic discussion.

Despite the demographic significance of young Nigerians, youth participation in conventional political activities has historically been characterised by contradictions. Young people may demonstrate considerable political interest and engage actively in political discussions while remaining reluctant to participate in formal political activities such as voting, party membership and political meetings. Mustapha and Omar (2020), in their study of Nigerian youths during the 2019 general elections, found that young people were more active in online political participation than in offline politics, suggesting that digital engagement does not automatically translate into conventional electoral participation.

The problem of youth electoral participation is particularly important because Nigeria has experienced relatively low voter turnout despite having a large registered electorate. The 2023 general election provides a significant illustration of this challenge. According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA, 2023), only about 27 percent of registered voters participated in the 2023 presidential election, representing a substantial decline from the already low turnout recorded in 2019. This situation raises questions about the factors that encourage or discourage citizens, particularly younger voters, from converting electoral registration and political interest into actual voting behaviour.

The emergence of social media has introduced a new dimension to political participation. Social media platforms such as Facebook, X, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok have transformed the manner in which political information is produced, distributed and consumed. Unlike traditional mass media, social media allows users to simultaneously function as consumers and producers of political content. Howard and Parks (2012) describe social media as involving the information infrastructure, content and tools that enable individuals and organisations to interact and communicate digitally. This participatory character has made social media increasingly relevant to contemporary political communication.

Social media can facilitate political mobilisation by reducing the cost and difficulty of communicating political information to large numbers of people. Political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, activists and ordinary citizens can use social networking platforms to disseminate campaign messages, announce political events, encourage voter registration and stimulate political discussion. Loader, Vromen and Xenos (2014) argue that digital media have created new possibilities for young people’s political engagement by providing spaces in which political identities, opinions and networks can be developed outside traditional political institutions.

The relationship between social media and political mobilisation is particularly significant among young people because younger citizens tend to be highly familiar with digital communication technologies. Boulianne (2015), in a meta-analysis of research on social media and participation, found evidence of a positive relationship between social media use and political engagement, although the strength and nature of the relationship vary according to context. This suggests that social media may provide additional opportunities for political engagement without necessarily eliminating the importance of traditional forms of participation.

In Nigeria, social media became increasingly prominent in electoral communication during the 2015 and 2019 general elections and became even more influential during the 2023 elections. Political actors increasingly used Facebook, Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Instagram and other platforms to communicate with voters and mobilise supporters. Aduloju (2016) found that social media networks played significant roles in raising political consciousness among Nigerian youths during the 2015 general elections and provided spaces for political arguments, mobilisation and the development of socio-political networks.

The 2019 general election further demonstrated the growing relationship between social media and youth political engagement in Nigeria. Mustapha and Omar (2020) examined social media use and youth political participation during the 2019 Nigerian general elections and found that youths were more active in online forms of political participation than in offline politics. Their findings are important because they suggest that digital political expression may be considerably stronger than conventional electoral participation among Nigerian youths. Consequently, the existence of extensive online political conversations cannot by itself be interpreted as evidence of increased voting.

The political significance of social media is also reflected in the development of youth-centred digital political networks. Obisesan (2022) examined the role of social media in youth participation during Nigeria’s 2019 general election and observed that platforms such as Facebook and Twitter provided opportunities for youth political agency, communication and mobilisation. At the same time, the study identified the double-edged nature of social media because digital platforms can facilitate democratic engagement while also creating opportunities for propaganda, misinformation and political manipulation.

The relationship between social media and electoral participation is therefore not necessarily straightforward. Social media may increase political awareness without increasing voting; it may encourage political discussion without encouraging physical attendance at polling stations; and it may generate political enthusiasm without producing sustained political participation. This distinction between online political engagement and offline electoral participation is important in understanding youth voting behaviour. In Nigeria, recent research has continued to identify this online-offline participation gap, particularly in relation to the 2023 general election.

Political mobilisation through social media may occur through several mechanisms. First, social media can provide voters with political information about candidates, parties, manifestos and election procedures. Second, it can create interpersonal networks through which individuals encourage friends, relatives and peers to participate in elections. Third, political campaigns can use targeted communication to appeal to specific demographic groups. Fourth, social media can facilitate political discussion and enable citizens to publicly express support or opposition to candidates and policies. According to Castells (2012), digital communication networks can facilitate the formation of collective identities and coordinated forms of social and political action.

Another important feature of social media political mobilisation is the role of peer influence. Young people may be influenced by the political attitudes and behaviours of friends, classmates, colleagues, family members and online communities. The interactive nature of social media means that political messages are not simply received from political institutions; they are also interpreted, shared and discussed within social networks. Vaccari et al. (2015) argue that social media can facilitate political engagement by exposing individuals to political information and social cues from their networks, although the effects can differ depending on the type of online interaction and the political environment.

Social media also has the potential to reduce some traditional barriers to youth political participation. Conventional political institutions can sometimes appear distant, hierarchical or inaccessible to young citizens. Social media allows young voters to communicate directly with political candidates, follow political debates, participate in online campaigns and express political preferences without necessarily belonging to a political party. Loader et al. (2014) therefore contend that digital media can provide younger generations with alternative avenues of political engagement that are less dependent on traditional political organisations.

Nevertheless, social media political mobilisation is associated with considerable challenges. One major concern is misinformation. The speed at which information circulates through social networking platforms can make it difficult for users to distinguish accurate information from fabricated or misleading content. Allcott and Gentzkow (2017) identify misinformation as an important feature of contemporary digital political communication because false information can influence political perceptions and behaviour. In an electoral context, misinformation may affect voters’ understanding of candidates, election procedures and political events.

Political polarisation is another challenge associated with social media. Digital platforms may encourage users to interact primarily with people who share similar political opinions, thereby creating environments in which existing beliefs are reinforced rather than critically examined. Sunstein (2018) argues that digitally mediated political environments can contribute to polarisation when individuals are repeatedly exposed to information that confirms their existing views. Among young voters, such environments may influence candidate preferences, political attitudes and willingness to engage with opposing political perspectives.

Another concern is the possibility of political manipulation through social media. Political actors may deliberately employ emotionally charged messages, misleading narratives, coordinated campaigns and online influencers to shape public opinion. Bradshaw and Howard (2019) document the increasing use of organised social media manipulation in political communication globally. This raises important questions about whether online mobilisation genuinely strengthens citizens’ autonomous political decision-making or sometimes encourages politically strategic forms of persuasion.

The Nigerian electoral environment presents additional challenges to youth participation. Issues such as electoral violence, distrust in political institutions, perceived electoral malpractice, vote buying, economic hardship and doubts about the effectiveness of individual votes have been identified in the broader literature as factors capable of discouraging participation. Norris (2014) argues that electoral integrity and citizens’ confidence in political institutions can affect willingness to participate in elections. Where citizens perceive elections as lacking credibility or responsiveness, political apathy may increase.

Social media can potentially address some of these problems by providing channels for electoral education and communication. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has used digital platforms and online communication channels to provide information concerning voter registration, voter verification, electoral procedures and other aspects of election administration. INEC emphasises that citizens aged 18 years and above have a civic responsibility to participate in choosing political leaders and provides information on voter registration and voting procedures through its official platforms (INEC, 2023).

The 2023 general election demonstrated both the opportunities and limitations of digital political mobilisation in Nigeria. Although political conversations on social media were highly visible, actual electoral turnout remained low. The contrast between intense online political communication and relatively limited physical voter participation raises an important research question: to what extent does social media political mobilisation actually influence young citizens to participate in elections? This question is particularly relevant for first-time voters who may encounter formal electoral politics for the first time through social media rather than through traditional political institutions.

First-time voters occupy a particularly important position in electoral research because their voting behaviour is not necessarily shaped by previous electoral experience. Their first encounter with an election may influence their future attitudes towards voting, political institutions and democratic participation. Plutzer (2002) argues that voting behaviour can develop through processes of habit formation, meaning that early electoral experiences may influence subsequent participation. Understanding what motivates first-time voters to participate is therefore important for the long-term development of democratic political culture.

First-time voters are also likely to rely heavily on interpersonal and digital sources of information when making political decisions. Social media may provide them with explanations of electoral procedures, information about candidates and opportunities to observe political debates. At the same time, inexperienced voters may be particularly vulnerable to misleading information because they may have limited experience with evaluating political claims. This creates a complex relationship between social media exposure, political awareness and electoral participation.

Research conducted specifically in Enugu has provided evidence that social media is becoming an important component of political mobilisation. Edeani (2023) examined the impact of social media messages on youth voting behaviour in Enugu metropolis and found that social media messages were relevant to youth political attitudes and voting behaviour. The study covered Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East, demonstrating the relevance of digital political communication to young people within the Enugu urban environment.

More recent research has examined Facebook and X as instruments of political mobilisation in Enugu metropolis. Nwafor and Nnamdi (2026) found that exposure to political communication through Facebook and X increased political awareness and interest among respondents during the 2023 presidential election. However, the study also reported a gap between online participation and physical electoral participation, with misinformation, political apathy, institutional distrust and electoral challenges identified among the factors affecting participation.

Similarly, Ezeah (2025) examined Facebook’s role in mobilising electorates during the 2023 presidential election in Enugu State, including respondents from Enugu North Local Government Area. The study reported strong awareness and use of Facebook as a political mobilisation tool and found that Facebook political information influenced perceptions and involvement in the electoral process, while misinformation and political polarisation remained important concerns.

Research in South-Eastern Nigeria also supports the importance of social media in understanding youth political participation. Abdulyakeen and Yusuf (2022) examined social media and youth political participation during the 2015 and 2019 general elections in South-Eastern Nigeria. Their work demonstrates that social media has become an important channel through which young people obtain political information and participate in political communication.

Similarly, Fasola and Oyadeyi (2021) investigated the influence of social media on youth participation in Nigerian politics during the 2015 and 2019 general elections. Their findings indicated high awareness and use of social networking sites among young respondents and suggested a positive relationship between social media use and real-life political participation. The finding is important because it contrasts with studies that identify an online-offline participation gap, demonstrating that the relationship between digital engagement and electoral behaviour may vary according to population and context.

The importance of examining Enugu North specifically arises from the fact that political behaviour is influenced by local social, demographic and institutional contexts. Enugu North is one of the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State and is situated within the state’s capital-city environment. The National Bureau of Statistics, drawing on National Population Commission data, recorded a population of 242,140 for Enugu North Local Government Area in the 2006 population census, demonstrating its substantial population base within the state (NBS, 2011).

The electoral significance of Enugu State is also evident from INEC’s electoral statistics. The Commission’s report on the 2023 general election recorded more than two million registered voters in Enugu State and identified 17 Local Government Areas, 260 registration areas and 4,145 polling units across the state (INEC, 2024). These figures demonstrate the scale of the electoral environment within which young voters in Enugu North participate.

Enugu North is also an especially relevant location for examining first-time voters because it combines a large urban population with a politically active environment in which young people have access to multiple sources of political information. The increasing use of smartphones and social networking platforms means that first-time voters may encounter political candidates, campaign messages, election-related discussions and peer opinions through digital networks before, during and after election periods. However, the availability of political information does not necessarily mean that such information will translate into actual voting behaviour.

The concept of political mobilisation is therefore central to this study. Political mobilisation refers to efforts to encourage individuals or groups to become involved in political activities and to act collectively or individually in pursuit of political objectives. In the context of elections, mobilisation can include voter education, campaign communication, persuasion, registration campaigns, reminders about voting, peer encouragement and efforts to increase turnout. Social media expands the potential reach and speed of such mobilisation, but its actual influence must be empirically established rather than assumed.

The present study consequently focuses on social media political mobilisation and youth electoral participation, with particular attention to first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State. The study is concerned not simply with whether young people use social media, but with whether political information, online discussions, campaign messages, political influencers, peer mobilisation and electoral information encountered through social media are associated with actual electoral participation. This distinction is important because political communication can influence awareness without necessarily changing behaviour.

The study is further justified by the mixed findings of existing research. While some Nigerian studies have reported positive relationships between social media use and political participation, others have found that young people engage more actively online than offline. Mustapha and Omar (2020), for example, found a stronger orientation towards online participation among Nigerian youths, whereas Fasola and Oyadeyi (2021) reported evidence of a positive relationship between social media use and real-life political participation. These contrasting findings suggest that the influence of social media may depend on specific populations, electoral contexts and forms of political participation.

There is also a geographical gap in existing research. A number of studies have examined Nigerian youths generally, youths in particular states, students, or respondents across Enugu metropolis, but relatively limited attention has been given specifically to first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area. Edeani’s work included Enugu North within a wider metropolitan sample, while Ezeah examined multiple Enugu LGAs in relation to Facebook mobilisation. A study specifically centred on first-time voters in Enugu North can therefore provide more focused evidence about how social media mobilisation affects voters who are experiencing electoral participation for the first time.

The study is also significant because first-time voters may represent an important entry point for developing long-term democratic participation. If social media can successfully transform political awareness into voting among first-time voters, it may contribute to the development of sustained electoral participation. Conversely, if intense online engagement does not translate into voting, this would suggest the need for political parties, electoral institutions and civic organisations to complement digital mobilisation with offline voter education, community engagement and confidence-building measures.

Ultimately, the relationship between social media political mobilisation and youth electoral participation cannot be understood merely by measuring how frequently young people use Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, TikTok or other platforms. What matters is whether exposure to political content generates political awareness, political interest, perceived political efficacy and ultimately participation in electoral activities. Boulianne (2015) similarly cautions that the relationship between social media and political participation is complex and varies across studies and contexts. The present study therefore seeks to investigate this relationship empirically among first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area, Enugu State.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Youth participation is essential to the sustainability of democratic governance, yet electoral participation among young Nigerians remains a major concern. Nigeria has a large youth population and young citizens constitute an important part of the electorate, but the existence of a large youth population does not automatically translate into high electoral participation. The low turnout recorded during recent general elections demonstrates the continuing challenge of converting electoral registration and political interest into actual voting behaviour. International IDEA (2023) reported that turnout in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election was approximately 27 percent of registered voters, indicating a significant level of electoral disengagement.

The problem becomes more complex in the era of social media because young people increasingly encounter politics through digital platforms. Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube have become important spaces for political discussions, campaign messages, candidate promotion, political commentary and voter mobilisation. However, the high visibility of political activities on social media may create the impression that young people are politically active even when such online activities do not translate into voting. Mustapha and Omar (2020) found that Nigerian youths were more active in online political participation than offline political activities during the 2019 general elections, thereby highlighting the possibility of an online-offline participation gap.

This gap presents a significant research problem because political participation has traditionally been evaluated partly through concrete political behaviours such as voting, campaigning and involvement in political organisations. Liking, sharing, commenting on or posting political content may demonstrate political interest, but these activities do not necessarily result in physical attendance at polling stations or the casting of a ballot. Recent research on Nigeria’s 2023 election similarly identified a gap between high levels of online political engagement and low electoral turnout (Oladapo, Oladipo, & Musa, 2026).

Another dimension of the problem concerns the credibility and quality of political information circulating on social media. Although social media can expose young voters to political information that may increase political awareness, it can also facilitate misinformation, propaganda, hate speech and political manipulation. Allcott and Gentzkow (2017) explain that false information can circulate rapidly through digital networks and influence political attitudes. For first-time voters who may have limited experience evaluating political information, exposure to misleading electoral messages may affect their understanding of candidates and political processes.

The problem is further complicated by political polarisation. Social media users may increasingly interact with people who hold similar political beliefs, thereby reinforcing existing attitudes and reducing exposure to alternative perspectives. Sunstein (2018) argues that digitally segregated information environments can contribute to political polarisation. In an electoral context, such polarisation may encourage strong partisan identification but may also discourage constructive political dialogue and reduce trust in political actors who hold opposing positions.

There is also uncertainty about whether political mobilisation through social media is capable of overcoming established causes of youth electoral apathy. Nigerian youths may face concerns relating to electoral credibility, political violence, distrust in political institutions, economic difficulties, vote buying, perceived ineffectiveness of political participation and dissatisfaction with political leadership. Norris (2014) maintains that confidence in the integrity of electoral processes can affect citizens’ willingness to participate. Consequently, simply providing young people with political information through social media may not be sufficient to motivate them to vote.

The problem is particularly important for first-time voters. Unlike experienced voters, first-time voters have no previous personal experience of participating in a national election. Their understanding of voting procedures, political candidates and the perceived value of their vote may therefore be shaped significantly by information received from social networks, family members, peers, political actors and digital platforms. Plutzer (2002) suggests that voting behaviour can become habitual over time, implying that the experiences and motivations associated with an individual’s first electoral participation may have implications for future voting behaviour.

In Enugu State, existing studies indicate that social media is already an important component of youth political communication. Edeani (2023) found that social media messages influenced youth voting attitudes in Enugu metropolis, while Ezeah (2025) found that Facebook played an important role in political mobilisation during the 2023 presidential election in Enugu State. However, these studies do not sufficiently isolate first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area as a distinct population.

Recent research by Nwafor and Nnamdi (2026) provides particularly relevant evidence because it examined Facebook and X political mobilisation across Enugu North, Enugu South and Enugu East. The study reported increased political awareness and interest arising from exposure to political communication but also found a gap between online political engagement and physical electoral participation. While this research provides valuable evidence about Enugu metropolis, it does not specifically concentrate on first-time voters in Enugu North or isolate their experiences and behavioural responses.

The absence of a focused study creates an important empirical gap. First-time voters may respond differently to social media mobilisation compared with older voters who have previous experience of elections. Their political knowledge, dependence on peer networks, social media habits, exposure to influencers and perceptions of voting may differ from those of experienced voters. Consequently, findings derived from general youth populations cannot automatically be applied to first-time voters in Enugu North.

There is also a need to distinguish between different dimensions of social media political mobilisation. Social media use itself may not be sufficient to explain electoral participation. What may matter is exposure to political campaign messages, voter education, candidate information, peer mobilisation, political influencers, election reminders, online debates and civic education. Without identifying these specific mobilisation mechanisms, it is difficult to determine which aspects of social media communication are most relevant to first-time voters’ electoral behaviour.

Furthermore, social media political mobilisation may produce contradictory outcomes. On the one hand, it can increase political awareness, provide electoral information, stimulate political interest and encourage voting. On the other hand, misinformation, political hostility, distrust, online fatigue and excessive partisan conflict may discourage participation. Abdulyakeen and Yusuf (2022) and Obisesan (2022) demonstrate the importance of considering both the opportunities and challenges associated with social media and youth political participation in South-Eastern Nigeria and Nigeria generally.

Another problem relates to the translation of political awareness into electoral action. A first-time voter may know the candidates, follow political discussions and share campaign messages but still fail to vote. Such a voter may be politically informed but electorally inactive. Conversely, a voter may have limited online engagement but participate in an election because of family influence, community mobilisation, party structures or personal political interest. This demonstrates why the relationship between social media mobilisation and electoral participation requires empirical investigation rather than assumptions about the effects of digital technology.

The electoral environment in Enugu State makes this investigation relevant. INEC recorded more than two million registered voters in Enugu State for the 2023 general election, demonstrating the substantial size of the electorate within the state (INEC, 2024). Given the large electoral population and the continuing importance of young voters, understanding factors that encourage or discourage first-time voters from participating is relevant to electoral administration, political parties and democratic development.

Enugu North is particularly appropriate for a focused investigation because it forms part of the Enugu metropolitan political environment and has a substantial population. National Bureau of Statistics data based on the 2006 population census recorded 242,140 residents in Enugu North Local Government Area (NBS, 2011). The local setting provides an opportunity to examine how young citizens encounter and respond to digital political mobilisation within a specific political and social environment.

The central problem, therefore, is not simply whether first-time voters in Enugu North use social media. Rather, the problem is whether and to what extent social media political mobilisation influences their actual participation in elections. There is a need to determine whether political information received through social media increases electoral awareness, whether online political discussions encourage voting, whether political campaigns mobilise first-time voters to participate, and whether social media exposure translates into concrete electoral behaviour.

It is against this background that this study investigates Social Media Political Mobilisation and Youth Electoral Participation in Nigeria: A Study of First-Time Voters in Enugu North Local Government Area, Enugu State. The study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the relationship between social media political mobilisation and electoral participation among first-time voters and to identify the opportunities and challenges associated with using social media as a tool for encouraging youth participation in elections.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

General Objective

The general objective of this study is to examine the relationship between social media political mobilisation and youth electoral participation among first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area, Enugu State.

Specific Objectives

The study specifically seeks to:

1. examine the level of social media use among first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area;
2. identify the major social media platforms used by first-time voters for political information and mobilisation;
3. examine the extent to which social media political messages influence political awareness among first-time voters;
4. determine the extent to which social media political mobilisation influences the electoral participation of first-time voters

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What is the level of social media use among first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area?
2. What are the major social media platforms used by first-time voters for political information and mobilisation?
3. To what extent does exposure to social media political messages influence political awareness among first-time voters?
4. To what extent does social media political mobilisation influence electoral participation among first-time voters?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: Social media political mobilisation has no significant influence on electoral participation among first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area, Enugu State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to several groups and institutions.

First-Time Voters

The study will help first-time voters understand the opportunities and risks associated with obtaining political information through social media. It may encourage them to critically evaluate political information and distinguish between legitimate electoral information, political opinions and misinformation. The study may also encourage young people to translate online political engagement into responsible electoral participation.

Independent National Electoral Commission

The findings may be useful to the Independent National Electoral Commission in developing more effective digital voter education and mobilisation strategies. INEC may use evidence concerning the platforms and types of political information most influential among first-time voters to improve voter education, electoral communication and public awareness programmes.

Political Parties and Political Candidates

Political parties and candidates may benefit from understanding how first-time voters respond to social media mobilisation. The findings could assist political actors in developing communication strategies that are informative, issue-based and capable of encouraging responsible electoral participation rather than merely generating online visibility.

Civil Society Organisations

Civil society organisations involved in voter education, democracy promotion and youth engagement may find the findings useful in designing programmes aimed at improving youth electoral participation. The study may help such organisations identify ways of combining online civic education with offline community-based mobilisation.

Government and Policy Makers

The findings may provide policy makers with evidence concerning the role of digital communication in contemporary political participation. Such evidence may be useful in strengthening policies relating to youth engagement, digital literacy, electoral communication and democratic participation.

Researchers and Students

The study will contribute to the growing literature on social media, political mobilisation and electoral participation in Nigeria. It will provide a reference point for future researchers interested in youth political behaviour, digital politics, elections and democratic participation, particularly within South-Eastern Nigeria.

Democratic Development

The study may contribute to broader efforts to strengthen democratic participation in Nigeria. Understanding why young people participate or fail to participate in elections can assist stakeholders in developing mechanisms that promote informed, voluntary and meaningful electoral participation.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study focuses on social media political mobilisation and youth electoral participation, with particular attention to first-time voters in Enugu North Local Government Area, Enugu State.

Content Scope

The study covers:

• social media use;
• political information on social media;
• political campaign messages;
• online political discussions;
• political influencers;
• peer-to-peer political mobilisation;
• voter education;
• political awareness;
• political interest;
• willingness to vote;
• actual electoral participation;
• social media misinformation;
• political polarisation; and
• challenges associated with digital political mobilisation.

Geographical Scope

The study will be conducted in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Enugu North is one of the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State. NBS data based on the 2006 population census recorded 242,140 inhabitants in the Local Government Area (NBS, 2011).

Population Scope

The study will focus primarily on young first-time voters who are eligible to vote and who reside in Enugu North Local Government Area. Relevant electoral and community stakeholders may also provide supplementary information where necessary.

1.8 Delimitation of the Study

The study is delimited to first-time voters rather than the entire youth population because first-time voters constitute a distinct category of electoral participants whose political behaviour may be shaped by their first experience with formal electoral participation.

The study is also delimited to social media political mobilisation rather than social media use generally. Consequently, attention will be given to political content, political campaigns, electoral information, voter mobilisation, online political discussions and other politically oriented activities.

Geographically, the study is limited to Enugu North Local Government Area rather than the whole of Enugu State. This delimitation is intended to allow the researcher to undertake a more focused investigation of the relationship between social media mobilisation and youth electoral participation within a specific local political environment.

1.9 Operational Definition of Terms

Electoral Participation

Electoral participation refers to the involvement of citizens in electoral activities, particularly voter registration, voting, campaign activities, political discussions and other legitimate activities connected with elections.

First-Time Voters

First-time voters are citizens who meet the legal requirements for voting and are participating in an election as eligible voters for the first time.

Political Mobilisation

Political mobilisation refers to organised or informal efforts aimed at encouraging individuals or groups to become involved in political activities or support particular political objectives.

Social Media

Social media refers to internet-based communication platforms that enable users to create, share, receive and interact with content and with other users. Examples include Facebook, WhatsApp, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Social Media Political Mobilisation

Social media political mobilisation refers to the use of social networking and digital communication platforms to disseminate political information, encourage political discussion, persuade voters, promote candidates or parties, provide voter education and encourage electoral participation.

Youth

For the purpose of this study, youth refers to young persons within the age category specified by the relevant Nigerian youth policy and who fall within the eligible voting population.

Political Awareness

Political awareness refers to an individual’s knowledge and understanding of political institutions, candidates, parties, electoral procedures, political issues and public affairs.

Political Engagement

Political engagement refers to the degree to which individuals show interest in, discuss, follow or participate in political activities.

Voter Mobilisation

Voter mobilisation refers to activities designed to encourage eligible citizens to register, obtain voter credentials, participate in campaigns, go to polling stations and cast their votes.

Online Political Participation

Online political participation refers to political activities carried out through digital platforms, including sharing political information, commenting on political issues, participating in online discussions, following political actors and engaging with political campaigns.

Offline Political Participation

Offline political participation refers to conventional forms of political activity conducted outside digital platforms, including attending political meetings, participating in rallies, engaging with political organisations and voting.

Political Misinformation

Political misinformation refers to inaccurate, misleading or false information relating to political actors, political events, electoral procedures or political issues, regardless of whether the information is intentionally or unintentionally disseminated.

Electoral Participation of First-Time Voters

This refers specifically to the involvement of eligible young citizens who are voting for the first time in electoral activities, particularly the actual casting of their ballots.

Project – Social Media Political Mobilisation and Youth Electoral Participation in Nigeria