ABSTRACT
Research on democracy consolidation in Africa pays little
attention the role information technologies play in mediating political
relations between individual politicians and citizens. On the other hand, media
research has not done enough to account for how existing socio-political
relations potentially define the use of media for political purposes. Drawing
from a recent governorship election in Nigeria, this paper argues that local
issues can determine how social media are framed and used in political
campaigns. In the election central to this study, the incumbent seeking
reelection boasted superior social media in both strategy and deployment. But
the opposition candidate eventually won the race by framing social media as a
tool of the elite meant to bypass ordinary citizens. Thus, by depicting himself
as a “man of the street,†the opposition candidate galvanized aggrieved groups
within the state to achieve an unlikely victory. The paper is based on two
weeks of interviews with top campaign officials of the opposition campaign.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Introduction
Despite the general paucity of economic infrastructure in
sub-Saharan Africa, over the past decade this region has experienced some of
the fastest growth rates in mobile phone and Internet penetration in the world.
In Nigeria, mobile phone subscription has risen from just over 866,000 in 2001
to over 121 million as of October 2013. During the same period, Internet users
rose from 200,000 to 57 million (NCC, 2013). These technologies are now major
social connectors, and there is hope that they may be transforming political
life by enhancing democratic consolidation and increasing the quality of
democracy. Technology potentially has the power to make elections in Nigeria
more transparent and to encourage citizens to expect accountability from
elected leaders (Adewumi & Daramola, 2010; Etzo & Collender, 2010;
Ifukor, 2010; Olorunnisola & Douai, 2013; Schuler, 2008; Smyth & Best,
2013).
1.2 Background
of the Study
One of the elements of democracy and the rule of law is the
freedom of expression. To democratize is to ensure free unhindered two-way
communication between the government and the governed. The essence is to ensure
the responsiveness of the government to the yearnings of the people and for the
people to put their views across to government without fear or hindrance and in
an atmosphere devoid of interference. Against this background, this paper
examines the role of the mass media in the process of democratic consolidation
in Africa, including Nigeria. The objective is to identify the factors acting
as constraints to the effectiveness of the mass media in ensuring democratic
consolidation. It observes that the sustainability of democracy in Africa
depends on several factors, some of which are located within the media itself
while others are based on the prevailing political, socio-economic, legal,
infrastructural, cultural and religious environment Jin the different
countries. The most crucial factor for the sustenance of democracy in Africa
would consist of the enthronement of a popular sovereignty that touches the
daily lives of the populace, gives meaning to the notion of citizenship and
goes beyond the constitutionally defined form of rule. The role of the media is
facilitative, supportive and integrative.
To achieve greater media effectiveness in promoting
democratic ideals and governance in Africa, there is need for private sector
partnership and involvement of civil society organizations in media ownership
in order to achieve a balance
1.3 Statement
of the Problem
If elections have become more transparent, cases of pre-
and post-election violence continue to persist (Lewis, 2011). The violence may
be due in part to incitement communicated over the new media, which the state
appears unable to control (Lewis, 2011; Smyth & Best, 2013; Tar &
Zack-Williams, 2007). However, on other occasions, mobile phones and social
media have been instrumental in fostering stability by dispelling rumors and
disseminating facts (Smyth and Best, 2013). The digital media is not the only
force at work in these elections. Tensions between parties and groups pose a
serious challenge to this fragile democracy as manipulative politicians play
voters off against each other in a bid to cling onto power (Berman, Eyoh, and
Kymlicka, 2004; Nyamnjoh, 2005b).
Two bodies of literature may offer understanding as to why
the digital media has not had a transformational effect on democracy on the
African continent, even though this media has greatly improved the logistical
coordination for elections and political campaigns. Firstly, mainstream African
political science literature advances that ethnic tensions, intense competition
for state power and resources, and weak state institutions are responsible for
electoral violence and the fragile democracies of many African countries (see
Berman et al., 2004). Another body of literature focuses on the use of digital
media in African elections. According to these various studies, the effect of
the digital media on democracy varies greatly. In some instances, it seems to
create efficiency and transparency in the electoral process (Bailard and
Livingston, Forthcoming; Smyth and Best, 2013); in other instances, it
contributes to widespread disillusionment resulting in the refusal by many
citizens to vote in elections (Bailard, 2012). The study of digital media is
still a developing field and there is no agreement about the overall effects of
it on elections or democratization.
But these two bodies of literature, studying the old and
new media respectively, have generally not interacted, and as a result a
significant knowledge gap exists. Yet, it is clear that the media has played a
decisive role in African politics. Nationalists who fought for independence
made extensive use of the media, and postcolonial governments generally used
the media to promote development policies and programs. So both political
science and digital media research will mutually benefit from incorporating existing
socio-political factors into the analyses of how new digital media technologies
are utilized for political advantage in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper assumes
that technology and society are constantly at work on each other. Technology
brings new opportunities to the political process, but its use is strongly
influenced by historical and social realities.
Two aspects of the election campaign process are of
particular interest. Firstly, the way the elites framed digital media use in
public discourse as compared to its actual use in the campaigns, and, secondly,
what the campaigns perceived as the best use for digital media: political
bargaining or reaching voters with their message.
1.4 Objectives
of the Study
The objectives of this research work are to:
Bridge the gap between political science and digital media
literature in Sub-Saharan African. Explore how the use of digital media by
political elites has interacted with socio-political and historical factors,
and ultimately shaped the outcome of the governorship election in Nigeria’s
Ekiti state. Ekiti has a low rate of Internet use, but high mobile phone use.
Investigate how politicians adopted these new digital media and other
traditional channels of communication for political campaigning, internal
campaign communication, and inter-elite bargaining.
1.5 Research
Questions
The following research questions have been developed:
RQ1
During campaigning, how did the elites’ public discourse
about digital media use compare with their actual digital media practices?
RQ2
How do politicians communicate with their constituencies
and supporters during an election?
RQ3
To what extent does the choice of a media channel
correspond with the type of message politicians want to send?
1.6
Significance of the Research Study
This research work has much significance but some of them
are:
This research work will improve and expand the knowledge
and understanding of the researcher on issues surrounding or pertaining to the
concept of democracy It will provide relevant information for understanding the
role of the media in democratic consolidation in Africa and Nigeria. It will
help in seeking solution to all problems that the mass media faces in
democratic consolidation. It will serve as reference material to any
scholar/student who is willing to know or to add to his/her knowledge and
insight of the role of the social media in democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
1.7 Scope of
the Study
It is generally known that the social media covers a wide
range area, but for the purpose of this research work, it will be limited to
the gubernatorial elections held in Ekiti State of South Western Nigeria on
June 21, 2014
1.8 Historical
Background of the Study
Ekiti state held an election for governor on June 21, 2014
with two main contestants – incumbent Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives
Congress and Ayodele Fayose of the People’s Democratic Party. Nigeria’s federal
system is patterned after the US system with state governors serving as the
chief executives of their states. Campaign strategies in the lead up to the
election were discussed in the national media as contests between the three
senatorial districts in the state with the current governor’s performance
taking a backseat as he sought reelection (Nwaoko, 2014). The state is
ethnically homogenous but the three senatorial districts contest for the
governor’s seat. The opposition candidate, Fayose, won the election and the
incumbent Kayode Fayemi conceded defeat once the results were officially
announced. Observers, journalists, and most citizens agree that the election
was free and credible even if its fairness was questionable due to the
excessive use of security forces that Fayemi’s party alleged was meant to
intimidate its supporters.
The election was one of the best in Nigeria’s recent
electoral history. Yet, in the run up to the election, there were reports that
security forces harassed supporters of the APC party, which ruled in Ekiti, but
was in opposition on the federal level. The APC accused the federal government
of using the pretext of security concerns to deploy over 12,000 security forces
to intimidate its supporters not to vote. For some APC members, this deployment
tipped the election in favor of Fayose after security forces disrupted their
efforts to reach voters in the final days of campaigning. The security forces
denied partisan involvement, and challenged critics to present evidence.
Several citizens interviewed acknowledged receiving gifts of money and
foodstuff from both parties in the run up to the election, but it is unclear if
the disruption of any party’s gift-giving strategy negatively affected its
chances.
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