Social Media, Citizens' Participation in Elections, and the Proverbial Dividends of Democracy in Nigeria's Fourth Republic

Introduction

This chapter focuses on the trilogical subjects of social media, citizens’ participation in elections, and the proverbial dividends of democracy in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. It is important to point out that the media in Africa have been acknowledged for their roles in challenging fascist, monocratic, apartheid, or peremptory regimes; shaping democratic politics; and bolstering greater citizen participation in elections in various countries in the continent (Dantani, Wika, & Maigari, 2017; Duru, 2017; Falade, 2014; Imhonopi & Urim, 2004; Imhonopi, 2012; Iruonagbe, Imhonopi, & Ahmadu, 2013; Menocal, 2014; Muriungi, 2006; Oboh, 2016; Suntai & Targema, 2017; Chiluwa, 2012; UNESCO, Ethiopia, & African Union, 2019). The media achieved these goals despite the, sometimes, deleterious macroclimate of repression in which they operate. For example, from the anti-colonial protests that shook the foundations of the colonial enterprise to bring about the independence of some African states; the anti-apartheid agitations; to the vanguard’s role in contemporary African countries, the media continue to fight against repression by post-independent megalomaniacs who believe they are more significant than their nations (Iruonagbe, et al., 2013; Menocal, 2014; Muriungi, 2006; Oboh, 2016). Therefore, by informing, educating, sensitizing, and mobilizing the African society, the media, undeniably, play essential roles in the embedment of democratic culture and consciousness in the region (Chinedu-Okeke & Obi, 2016; Dantani et al., 2017; Gberevbie & Oviasogie, 2013; Mustapha, Gbonegun & Mustapha, 2016; Ndavula, & Mberia, 2012; Opeibi, 2019; Urim, Imhonopi & Ojukwu, 2013).

The media play visible roles during elections: shaping the edges of the democratic persona within nations. When the media are not seen to be doing so, they attract criticisms from citizens who have high expectations in their power to hold politicians and the government accountable to the people (Oboh, 2016; UNESCO, et al., 2019). Elections are instrumental in political leadership change and are also heavily influenced and driven by the media. The debouchment of social media changed the media space because it created options for ordinary citizens to participate. Social media have been found in developed and emerging economies to reshape the political landscape and narratives (Abdu, Alamai, Musa, & Halilu, 2018; Bello, Yusuf, Yusuf, & Akintola, 2017; Madueke, Nwosu, Ogbonnaya, Anumadu, & Okeke, 2017). Social media provided platforms for the political leverage that swept former American President Barack Obama into office. The Arab Spring was wound around social media use and led to the fall of despotic regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. The ongoing political activism in many African countries such as Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Uganda, Nigeria, and others, are hastened because social media platforms give rooms for citizens to pass across messages that enable political participation and communication among citizens (Bello, et al., 2017; Madueke, et al., 2017; Mustapha, et al., 2016; Nnanyelugo & Tsegyu, 2017).

In Nigeria, many young people access social media on their mobile devices. The new media have been acknowledged for their roles in spreading political information, promoting user-generated political contents, galvanizing youths into various political engagements, and expressing political views (Abdu et al., 2018). Bello et al. (2017) also recognize the growing influence of social media in Nigeria, where they have become the media of communication exploited for the following: exposing vices in the society; providing platforms for citizen communication; instigation of action; and putting pressure on political office holders to be alive to their responsibilities. These authors mention how former Nigerian President - Goodluck Jonathan’s popularity soared in the build-up to the 2011 general elections because he opened a Facebook account. Jonathan was victorious in that year’s general elections (Bello et al., 2017). His success motivated other political class members in Nigeria to follow likewise and discover social media's immense benefits.

This chapter attempts to expand the conversation about social media, citizens’ participation in elections, and the proverbial dividends of democracy in Nigeria, focusing on the country’s Fourth Republic that dawned in 1999.