SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE DIFFUSION OF THE OBIDIENT MOVEMENT DURING THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT The advent of utilizing social media for political purposes has been a significant change in recent decades. While most agree that social media can propel political change, the mechanisms underlying why social media affects political action remain unclear. The media plays a vital role in a democracy; informing the public about political issues and acting as a watchdog against abuses of power. During election campaigns the media provides information and analysis about the political parties' programmes, policies, candidates and performance. Electronic communication seems to make politicians seem more remote; there is still no connection between politics where power is brokered, and the network society itself. In a similar way, social media has also transformed politics in India and globally. Its effect has impacted the way candidate campaign for their election. Social media allows politicians and political parties a method to connect directly with people across the country at a reduced cost and greater reach than traditional media. Social media is not simply the next in a line of communications technologies: it has also changed everyday activities and connected people in a manner never before possible. The electorates relied on social media as the main source of information and the basis on which they formed their opinions and voting decision. This study therefore recommends that there is a need to educate Nigerians on the positive use of the social media for mobilization against genuine infractions in such a manner that would not threaten the integration of the country. The government should also make its presence on the social media