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ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate social media influence on electoral process: A Study of Twitter virtual space in Nigeria. The research began with a background discussion on the significant role social media has played in Nigeria’s electoral politics. A review of related literature was conducted to provide context for the study. A survey research design was adopted, with students from Benson Idahosa University constituting the study population. Using a simple random sampling technique, 100 students were selected. A questionnaire structured into two sections was used as the research instrument. Section A collected personal data of the respondents, while Section B elicited responses related to the research questions. Out of the 100 questionnaires distributed, 96 were retrieved and analyzed using the simple percentage method. The analysis revealed that that politicians in Nigeria extensively use Twitter during electoral processes, and that the level of trustworthiness of information disseminated by politicians on Twitter during elections is perceived by respondents as only partially credible and that Twitter is seen as a critical factor in fostering political polarization during elections in Nigeria and finally, that the regulatory frameworks governing social media usage during elections are perceived as inactive, highlighting an urgent need for more robust oversight and enforcement to mitigate the negative impacts of social media on the electoral process. It therefore recommended based on the findings that politicians should be encouraged to use Twitter to share clear and transparent campaign messages, policies, and plans to engage voters meaningfully, and that the regulatory body should partner with independent fact-checking organizations to verify the information before it is posted on Twitter. Also implement is that there should be a transparency pledge for political candidates to commit to sharing only verified and truthful information.
