PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGIES ON VOTE BUYING DURING THE 2023 ELECTIONS IN CALABAR MUNICIPALITY. (A STUDY OF INEC CALABAR)

The study set to investigate Public Relations Strategies on vote buying during the 2023 elections in Calabar Municipality. The study employed the excellence theory as its theoretical framework. It employed survey method to achieve its objectives. The research instruments used was the questionnaire. Three hundred and ninety-five (395) copies of structured questionnaire were administered to the population who were residents of Calabar Municipality which was selected as the study area. The data were Analyzed using the simple percentage statistical tool. More so, the study revealed that, the awareness level of residents in Calabar Municipality on vote buying in Nigerian elections have been very low and there is need for voters to be properly sensitized on vote buying. Also, vote buying is an act that has not been totally condemned based on the perception of the residents in Calabar Metropolis because of the monetary benefits attached. As such, Public Relations Strategies can be employed to curb the issue of vote buying in Calabar municipality. The study therefore recommended among others that, Public Relations Strategies like Voter's Education, Press Releases and Massive Awareness Creation through the mass media should be employed during elections in Calabar Municipality to dissuade vote buying. Electorates should not see vote buying as an avenue to make or extort money from the electors rather, a phenomenon that leads to the elections of bad leaders into power and other recommendation in the study.