RADIO CAMPAIGN AND VOTER SENSITIZATION ON THE 2023 ELECTION IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS

Abstract

The focus of the study was to examine radio campaign and voter sensitization in Port Harcourt metropolis. The objectives of this study were to examine the level of awareness of voters on radio campaign on election issues in Port Harcourt metropolis, determine if residents of Port Harcourt metropolis received messages of voter sensitization campaign on radio, ascertain voter’s preparedness to vote as a result of radio campaign and voter sensitization in Port Harcourt metropolis, and three research questions were used to guide the study. Concepts related to the study were reviewed and the study was anchored on the Framing theory.  The study adopted survey research designed and the population of 3,171,000 as projected to 2021 and employed Krejcie and Morgan’s (1970) sample size determination table which put the sample size at 384. The study used the questionnaire as the instrument for data collection. The study found that Port Harcourt City voters are well aware of political issues as a result of their exposure to radio campaign. Messages on voter sensitization on radio were received by residents but were not planned but haphazard. Finally, messages from radio stations were not responsible to the high level of preparedness of voters in Port Harcourt to vote. The study recommends that Port Harcourt City voters should keep exposing themselves to political messages emanating from radio stations. Radio stations in Port Harcourt should as a matter of urgency air programmes that should educate voters on the right ways to vote. The study concludes that messages received from radio about voter education are not planned, this is because no deliberate effort have been made by radio houses to educate voters on how to vote rightly.