CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Today democracy is no doubt the most preferred form of government in the world. One of its

cardinal principles is the participation of the people in making a choice on who governs them

(Elaigwu, 2017). Hence, it is germane that a functioning democracy requires an informed and

active public that understands how to voice its interests, act collectively, and hold government

officials accountable (National Democratic Institute, 2011). Grigsby (2016) notes that democracy

presupposes certain participatory, pluralist, developmental, protection, and performance

elements. Its representative features are such in which citizens indirectly impact political

decisions by electing and influencing the behavior of representatives who actually make public

policy and control implementation (Mezey, 2008, p.2). It is true that today’s smart phone plays

an indispensable role in the proper functioning of a democracy. Discussion of the smart phone’s

functions usually focuses on their “watchdog” role: by unfettered scrutiny and discussion of the

successes and failures of governments, smart phone can inform the public of how effectively its

representatives have performed and help to hold them to account. The mass media generally

performed broad social functions to the audience and these functions are entertainment,

information and education. Therefore, the smart phones plays the same function, in terms of

providing messages to its users while it is entertaining them thereby reminding its targeted

audience (public).

The quality of governance has been improved over the years as a result of many factors; among

which is revolutions in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) like smart phones.

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This has, in turn, impacted participation of citizens in public affairs; in relation to plurality of

voices, advocacy, activism and electoral activities, enhanced by ICT platforms including mobile

android Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the Internet, thus deepening the democratic process

(Diamond, 2010).

1.2 Statement of the problem

The use of social media such as mobile Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Blogs and other social

media tools as a new means to disseminate messages and engage the audience in participatory

communication has created a new dimension in social mobilization making it easier to organize

and disseminate ideas. It is instructive to point out that despite its various strengths as an

interactive media, different schools of thought have argued against the credibility of most of the

contents. Available statics demonstrate that the prevalent and most subscribed social media in

Nigeria are Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, in that order. Given this development this study

examines the contributions of smart phones by civil society and government as a tool to promote

political campaigns trends in the society. The objective is to add to the growing body of

theoretical knowledge of ICT and examine the theoretical framework supporting the use of smart

phones networking apparatus for political mobilization and development. The end point of this

study is to discover how social media can be used as a tool for social mobilization in Nigeria,

thereby providing new possibilities to the problem of ineffective and aborted social campaigns

and development efforts. In order to put this in proper context the researcher intend to examine

the impact of smart phone on political mobilization in Nigeria.

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1.3 Objectives of the study

The objective of this study will focus on the impart of smart phone on citizen political

awareness during Nigeria 2023 general election among the residence of Amuwo Odo fin Local

Council Development Area of Lagos State. Among other is a list of objectives that will be

covered by the research work:

i. Find out the impact of smart phones on the citizens political awareness during the

2023 general election among the residence of Amuwo Odofin

ii. To find out the extend of exposure of citizens to political awareness via smart

phones among the residence of Amuwo Odofin LCDA.

iii. To find out the extend of increase in political awareness as a result of smart phone

among Amuwo Odofin LCDA residence.

iv. To find out the kind of messages communicated via smart phone to create

political awareness during the Nigeria 2023 general election among Amuwo

Odofin LCDA residence.

1.4 Research questions

The following research questions shall guide the study;

i. The impact of smart phone on citizen political awareness during the 2023 general

election among the residence of Amuwo Odofin?

ii. The extend of exposure of citizens to political awareness using smart pnone?

iii. Finding out the increase in political awareness as a result of smart phones user in the

2023 general election

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 iv. The message and information communication via smart phone to create awareness

during the Nigeria 2023 general election among Amuwo Odofin LCDA residence.

1.5 Significance of the study

It is expected that at the completion of this study, it findings will be beneficial to the general

public as it concerns the usage of smart phone in political mobilization.

The study will help the ministry of information and communication to advice the government on

policy formulation regarding elections, nowadays that the masses have direct and first hand

information on election right on their smart phone in the comfort of their room.

The study will educated on the aspirant on the need to be careful and cautious of their

pronouncement during political campaign which is most time live streaming and could be

recorded on smart phone which could be use for future reference.

The findings of this study will also serve as a reference material to scholars who intend to

embark on a project of this nature in future.

Finally, the study will also contribute to our political and socio-cultural development through an

empirical linkage of credibility and sycophancy in Nigerian’s environment.

It will again enlighten our mind on the use of smart phone for socio-cultural integration of the

public through fair political new management in the social media.

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1.6 Scope and limitations of the study

The scope of this study covers effectiveness of smart phone in political mobilization in Nigeria.

In the cause of the study, the researcher encounters some limitations which limited the scope of

the study;

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic

work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

Inadequate Materials: Scarcity of material is also another hindrance. The researcher finds it

difficult to long hands in several required material which could contribute immensely to the

success of this research work.

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in

sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection.

1.7 Operational definition of terms

Impact: is defined as the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another.

Smart phone: A mobile phone that can make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while

the user is moving within a telephone service area. The radio frequency link establishes a

connection to the switching systems of a mobile phone operator, which provides access to the

public switched telephone network (PSTN). Modern smart phone services use a cellular network

architecture, and, therefore, smart phones are often also called cellular telephones or cell phones.

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Political mobilization: Political mobilization is defined as the actors’ attempt to influence the

existing distribution of power. A directional variable is introduced in order to define more

precisely the type of relationship which develops between individuals and parties.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

These research work is conducted to investigate the impart of smart phone on citizen political

awareness during Nigeria 2023 general election among the residence of Amuwo Odo fin Local

Council Development Area of Lagos State. This work is discussed under the following headings:

the concept of smart phone, the role of smart phone in creating awareness for electoral

participation, smart phone and democratic consolidation in Nigeria, the impact of smart phone on

2023 general election, the challenges in the use of smart phone as a political platform in Nigeria,

theoretical Framework and empirical studies

Conceptual review

2.1 The concept of smart phone

The widespread adoption and use of smart phones have resulted in some major social and

political changes that are clearly seen through the dynamic relationship between technology and

society. In light of the legendary works of Marshall McLuhan, Manuel Castells, Elihu Katz,

James Everett Katz, and Mark Aakhus it could be deduced that the social and political changes

stemming out of smart communication highlight a distinct step in the development and

progression from the traditional mass media age to a new personal communication society

(Campbell &Yong, 2018). By being personal in nature, smart phones are becoming extremely

dominant and prevalent in today’s society. In other words, they have become a main feature of

the new personal age of communication technologies. Moreover, the personal nature of this

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technology’s usage acts as a useful framework for exploring and understanding the social and

political consequences that stem out of their adoption and use. Campbell and Yong (2018) noted

that in such a personal communication age where cell phones dominate the consequences are a

number of imperative social and political changes.

Furthermore, smart phones act as vehicles allowing for social interaction offering citizens the

opportunity to self-organize, create and share knowledge. This leads to nourishment and

enhancing the process of societal development. Smart phones being a main example of personal

communication technologies are distinct than other network technologies such as the computers

for instance, in that they are often worn on the body, vastly individualized, and hence considered

as an extension of the self (Campbell &Yong, 2018). The smart phones resemble a technology

that is promoting a culture of mobility in space and time; a culture reflected in a change of nature

of societies that no longer requires face-toface interactions (Kriem, 2009). To crystallize, the

smart phones idea is based on the concept of smart telephony’s provision of phones which move

around freely instead of being fixed in one location. Smart phones connect to a terrestrial cellular

network of base stations (cell sites), whereas satellite phones connect to orbiting satellites. Both

networks are interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to allow any

phone in the world to be dialed. The rapid evolution of smart phone technology has been iconic

since the first generation of smart phone system came into use during the early 1990s.

Fernandez, Fei Mun, Mei Li (2019) explained that today the smart phone system has evolved

into 3G allowing smart phones, computers, and other portable electronic devices to access the

Internet wirelessly. With the advent of technology and more and more advanced smart phones

systems, it is predicted that smart phones will become a very essential item in every individual’s

daily life (p. 39). According to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Associate (CTIA),

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more than 158 million people in the United States had gone wireless in 2003 (Rosen 2004 as

cited in Fernandez et al. 2011 ). As of December 2010, the figure had risen to 302.9 million

people (CTIA, 2010). Nowadays, smart phone users are a common sight regardless of time and

location. Fernandez et al (2011) noted that the pace of innovation in smart phones in terms of its

uses or functions is caused by several factors.

2.1.2 Smart phone awareness and political participation

The new media technologies have arguably enhanced the communication process in a wide range

of human endeavours and the political environment no doubt is experiencing a great deal of the

impact of new media phenomenon (Nwabueze & Ezebuenyi, 2016). However, the growing

recognition and utilization of smart phone and their application in the political process

underscore the role which smart phone have assumed in the world today. In Nigeria for instance,

the unwholesome reliance on godfatherism is gradually giving way to online tactical crafting and

packaging of persuasive messages by campaign managers and political parties with an aim to

consciously persuade Nigerian voters to vote in their candidates (Ezebuenyi & Ejezieh, 2016).

According to Dunu and Oraka (2004), the tremendous fact of the new media technologies has

definitely furnished the communication industry with revolutionary positive changes

unprecedented. According to them, Nigeria, like other countries of the world, has also benefited

in terms of improved technology output, variety offerings, improved resources and quality output

occasioned by the new media revolution. This art and science of information management

through the new media seem to be gaining more grounds in our political landscape. Thus,

political advertising is today carried online (Kur & Melladu, 2007). The election campaign that

saw Barack Obama become the President of the United States of America (USA) in 2008/ 2012

was characterized by effective and efficient information management ability interfacing the

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deployment of the new media technologies by his ability to use online platforms to attract the

electorate commonly known as friends of Obama with the slogan ‘change is possible’. Following

the same trend, President Goodluck Jonathan also adopted an online information management

skills in his 2011 presidential election campaigns and actually become the first in Nigeria to use

such strategy that has increasingly made an inroad into our electoral process and in the overall

political environment (Ezebuenyi & Ejezieh, 2016).

Smart phone help large groups to gather in a short amount of time. They also provide a platform

for people to express their solidarity both within the country and with others in the region and

beyond. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter are being credited with helping to propel the Arab

Revolution (Hunter, 2011). Still harping on the role of the new media, Ikem (2022) argues: The

place of smart phone(new media) to rally political support is no longer in doubt. To advance the

conversation and mobilize political support, smart phone have become a crucial political tool.

Facebook, Twitter and other social networks reinforce political messages and build online and

offline support that will help drive interesting debates about any politician and/or political party.

In fact, the smart phone provide a potential to stream and broadcast real live political rallies and

party conventions online, in such a way that supporters, who cannot participate physically can be

involved from a distance effortlessly. Commenting further, Ikem (2022) observes that whereas

the dependence of the politicians on traditional media for political campaigns will certainly be

noticeable and cannot be completely discarded, modern trends of the new media seem to be

eroding the gains of the traditional media. In a changing world, it is impossible to advance

democratic change and development with old tools. Today, leaders need to understand the role of

changing communication technology for politics and society. This is the use of the new media in

the field of governance and political development to increase citizens participation in the

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political process. The topic, “e-government” was presented as a vision that will give impetus to

greater socio-political interactivity.

Furthermore, through the diffusion of the Internet, new media have been variously involved in

the restructuring of socio-cultural economic and political relationships and environments all over

the world (Nkala, 2012). This has been evident in the pervasiveness of user-generated content

and the ways it is used to support social networking. The diffusion of this development is already

revolutionizing all facets of human endeavour and the political process is not left out (Nwabueze,

2005). With the rise of social networking technologies, isolated actors with common aims

increasingly use online tools to connect, share, discuss and organize. The volume of participation

increased significantly on sample days of heightened offline political activity and when the top

participants were prevented from contributing to the wall on these days (because of

demonstration, detention or arrest), another small subset of users filled the leadership vacuum.

These findings indicate that there is the possibility for Facebook and other Social Networking

Services (SNSs) to act not only as complementary spaces for political discussion or creating

awareness, but as platforms for organizational structures that exist independently of any party

and act to successfully secure collectively defined goals (Munson & Resnick, 2011; Baumgartner

& Morris, 2010; Kushin & Kitchener, 2009; Utz, 2009; Farrell & Drezner, 2008; Schmidt, 2007).

2.1.3 Smart phone and democratic in Nigeria

The role of smart phone in the democratization process in terms of strengthening Nigeria

democracy cannot be overemphasized. This positive relationship is being interrogated here by

considering the individuals‟ attitudes, beliefs and behaviours to democratic governance. It is

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imperative to point out here that since the birth of modern democracies, freedom of speech and

Press independence has been regarded as crucial and indispensable conditions for the effective

functioning of a democratic political system. The demise of authoritarian regimes and spread of

democracy in Nigeria and other parts of the world in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, which

Samuel Huntington (1991) called „the third wave of democratization‟ has even further increased

researchers‟ interest in the role of smart phone in facilitating democratic transition and enabling

subsequent democratic consolidation (particularly in Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America)

(Štetka, & Örnebring, 2012).

Recent socio-political upheavals in North Africa popularly known as Arab Spring, which

resulted in the toppling of some authoritarian leaders are reportedly organized through new

communication technologies and social networks (Lim, 2012; Youmans & York, 2012), thereby

reinforcing the belief that smart phone is a veritable instrument for the establishment and

consolidation of democracy. Bratton and Gyimah-Boadi (2005) and Mattes and Bratton (2007)

argue that for non-democratic regimes to transit to democracy, and for young democracies to

consolidate and stabilize, a majority of citizens need to be committed to democracy as their

preferred form of government through the help of information technologies like internet. They

emphasize that the attitudes of citizens and information technologies are important components

of the democratization process. Almond and Verba (1963) describe the Internet as one of the

online tools having great democratic potential because it does allow for feedback and encourages

the development of “participant” citizens. They said that rather than acting as passive receptors

of political information, participant citizens are more sophisticated and engaged with political

information provided to them and subsequently respond or make demands from it. There is no

doubting the potential of the Internet, especially when utilized by organizations such as political

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parties or movements, to promote the formation of mass public opinion that demands political

change within democratizing states. Other scholars who equally emphasize the Internet’s

capacity to promote political change by serving as a pluralistic media platform include Bratton,

Mattes and Gyimah-Boadi (2005), Groshek (2009) and Lei (2011). For instance, Bratton and his

colleagues argue that new smart phone use in transitioning or emerging democracies “expands

the range of considerations that people bear in forming their political and economic attitudes,”

and promotes democratic citizenship and greater demand for democratic processes and reform

(Bratton et al., 2005). One important major role of this new smart phone in democratic

consolidation could be seen in the area of information circulation during electioneering process.

From available data collected from the interviews which were conducted on the role of new

smart phone on democratic consolidation in Nigeria (especially with respect to 2011 general

election) by Ojo (2014), majority of respondents submitted that smart phone has helped to

overcome previous scarcity of information during the electioneering process, leading to

increased transparency and reduced tension. Moreover, smart phone based monitoring shows

encouraging signs of robustness concerning information quality and mobility. Findings show that

smart phone remains an effective tool for electoral scrutiny and can help build public trust in the

electoral process (Thomas & Michael, 2019). The frustration felt by some Nigerians in relation

to the high rate of corruption and ineffectiveness of Nigerian governments led them to create a

Nigerian pro-democracy group in 2010 known as “Enough is Enough” (EIE) which is geared

towards promotion of good governance and public accountability in Nigeria. The group seeks to

achieve their objective by mobilizing young Nigerians of voting age (18–35), with an emphasis

on the use of smart phone technologies. Several of the group’s leaders are among the best known

smart phone personalities in the country. It orchestrated a major voter education and election

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monitoring initiative in 2011, dubbed “RSVP” acronym for Register (to vote), Select (your

candidates), Vote, and Protect (your vote from fraud). This campaign had a strong presence on

social media, and a special Smart phone Tracking Center (SMTC) was also established to

monitor popular smart phone platforms for signs of trouble (Asuni & Farris, 2011). Prompt

reporting of incidents through camera-cell/mobile phones, twitter, facebook, YouTube among

others is an important role of smart phone in consolidating democracy in Nigeria. For instance,

there were several recorded cases of electoral irregularities and malpractices which led to the

arrest of some people during the 2011 general election by security operatives. Specifically, an

SMTC staff gave a first-hand report he received from a National Youth Service Corps member

that worked as a polling officer in the 2011 general election. The worker claimed to have been

forced to register under-aged children to vote. He sent several photos of the ineligible voters to

the SMTC.

In fact, smart phone has gained global recognition as revolutionary tools for effecting drastic

changes. This is especially true of the facebook and twitter platforms which have been

facilitating massive communication online on an unprecedented large scale. Apart from their

catalytic role in the uprisings in the Arab world (Arab Spring) which culminated in the

enthronement of democracy in Tunisia and Egypt, they also assisted profoundly in exposing and

spreading details of the evil of the government of Turkey as a result of which their usage was

temporarily banned there (Chikero, 2014). Even in Nigeria presently, corrupt and inept

government functionaries are becoming apprehensive of the smart phone because of its

expository and infectious nature. Chikero believe that, “What a corrupt nation needs is just a

powerful platform where citizens can uninterruptedly communicate their common experiences,

share ideas on the way out.” (Chikero, 2014).

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2.1.4 Smart phone and 2023 general election

Smart phone has come to stay and has played a vital role in any matter of importance, elections

inclusive the world over. Smart phones are clone with applications that enable users to create and

share content or to participate in social networking. According to Wikipedia, they are interactive

technologies that allow the creation/sharing of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of

expressions via virtual communities and networks. Elections are a formal and organized choice

by vote of a person for a political office or other position. It is also a formal group decision-

making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold

public office.

Smart phone has apparently has taken over the conventional media world of TV and newsprint

journalism and has produced millions of self made journalists. Everyone now seems to be able to

dish out news and be a recipient of same good or bad. The world over, we have seen recent

effects of smart phone in processes of elections of countries: the America 2020 elections and the

2015 and 2019 elections in Nigeria. Sometimes, as it affects the political class which may

inadvertently affect the 2023 general elections. An instance of this is the #EndSARS protest that

started on smart phone and maintained a giant position on same and physically.

Smart phone has helped other parties to go all out to push their presence to the populace and also

present their agenda. Also, the use of adverts on social media is drastically less expensive to that

of the conventional media. Small political parties with limited resources, little or no sponsors and

independent candidates can benefit. The last two general elections in Nigeria both 2015 and 2019

have seen social media play an increasingly important role. During the 2015 Presidential

15
elections in Nigeria between former President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s

Democratic Party and President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, the smart phone was

efficiently used (Ajayi & Adesote, 2022).

It’s no gainsaying that the PDP had been the ruling party in Nigeria across all levels of

government in Nigeria since 1999. A coalition of quite a number of prominent minority parties

had to come together to form an alliance called APC. But they knew the strategy wasn’t enough

to push out the ruling party and the use of social media was massively employed in that respect.

They used the smart phone: to push out their agenda for the country; opinion formation and to

push out their presence and most importantly to worm their way into the hearts of the top users

of smart phone in Nigeria which are the youth generation. This is in order to gain a larger

support for their cause. Political consciousness among Nigerian youths has risen to an all time-

high. The agenda won hands down. Abubukar (2011). The smart phone role has ensured freedom

from censorship, arbitrary attack, interference, free access to necessary information and a

pluralism of voices and not just state controlled media.

The advent of smart phone has however brought in two warring parties online. The wailing

wailers and people who seem not to be saved by the savior after four years and the popularity

seemed to wane in 2019. Smart phone foot soldiers that are anti government and pro government

have pervaded the social media. This has become a twist to the united front in the pre election

2015 of Nigeria, particularly in the way the two parties lashed out at each other, debunked each

other’s assertions et al heats the polity. This sure has a great impact in the 2023 elections. Self

proclaimed propaganda secretaries increasingly work online working to attack and discredit

political opponents through the spread of falsehoods. Government’s top officials have personal

verified accounts on smart phone where they make their popular and unpopular opinions and

16
foot soldiers storm to either hail or attack same. This is not peculiar to Nigeria alone as this was

also revealed in the 2020 American election of Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden.

However, the risk that information could be manipulated on smart phone to serve political ends

or instigate violence should not preclude key election stakeholders in Nigeria such as the INEC

from being active and engaged across social media. These key election stakeholders must

strategically engage online and integrate such social media approaches into a wider engagement

strategy alongside. Nigeria has not been left out and will not be left out of its impact in the 2023

elections (Odoemelam 2022).

The development of advanced technologies for smart phones, internet and hence Smart phone

has given people large access to information about elections of all levels of government. The

information the smart phone brings include: the aspirants of political parties, voting, monitoring

elections processes from its very beginning to its end in voting wards to the extent of capturing

of videos of ongoing voting and activities of party agents. They also capture documents and

pictures of voting lists and collated results of voting centers against the electoral laws of using

phones. This in particular has put parties on their toes as it seems it’s no longer business as usual

of engineering data which cannot be traced. This has given voice to people who would normally

not take part in political processes. It’s like a beam of hope in the quagmire of election

abracadabra this play a large role in the 2023 elections.

Political awareness and consciousness among Nigerian citizens has massively improved

especially the wind of apathy among youths. The youths are now more politically conscious and

now demand accountability using the means that’s in their comfort zone; smart phone. Some opt

for it to hide behind the keypads to vent their opinion on matters of national importance. Some

17
also see it as having a wider coverage to bring the attention of the intended leaders and the entire

world; such is the matter of the End SARS protest Ajayi & Adesote (2022). This was majorly

centered on the high handedness and abuse of office and powers of a section of the Nigerian

police called SARS operatives. The present generation of young Nigerians is not politically

docile and have make a huge impact in the 2023 elections and other future elections.

Also, at various times the youths have taken to the streets of social media to protest massively on

political matters they are dissatisfied with. This is not about to end but seems to just begin, as

agenda of parties, choice of candidates, every political move and action was subjected to strict

scrutiny. These all affect the processes and outcomes of the 2023 elections and the political class

has come to know this and is making sure they are able to par with this trend of things.

The shift of power to smart phone has a power bloc to reckon with in 2023 elections. It has come

to be accepted and has played key roles in elections, Nigeria’s inclusive.

One other important area of consolidating Nigerian democracy through the aid of smart phone is

to defuse tension and reduce the incidence of post electoral violence through prompt release of

election results. It has been argued that the greater availability of prompt information on smart

phone on Election Day has done much to mitigate tension and post election violence. Therefore,

politics has taken a new dimension in recent times with the advent of the new technologies.

Information sharing has become instant, vivid and comprehensive (Bettina, 2009). For example,

while the facebook which is the most popular among smart phone allows campaigners to send

out mass messages, post pictures, videos and interact with the public; twitter is used to send short

and targeted messages to thousands of followers and to interact with others (Omenugha,

Ukwueze & Malizu, 2011). YouTube is used to post campaign videos. These smart phone

18
platforms now give the electorate a competitive voice. With social media, politicians appeal to

citizens; it makes them seem more personable and gives them advantage of keeping in constant

touch with their supporters. Smart phone grants many people the chance to participate actively

and get fully involved in the political discourse by adding their voices to issues posted on smart

phone sites. Thus, it advances the frontiers of participatory democracy as a debate avenue and an

indispensable aid in actualizing public sphere journalism. It affords electorates a friendlier

avenue of assessing candidates for political offices and promoting transparency in governance.

More so, smart phone platforms are also indispensable tools of sensitization and conscientization

in advancing political engagement and mobilization. The challenge of voter apathy which was

experienced during the 2019 general elections in some parts of the country can be averted in

future elections through the optimal utilization of new smart phone platforms. The governments

at all levels through its agencies and the politicians can spread political messages directly to

citizens’ mobile phones to encourage them to vote in particular ways. The ubiquitous access of

these online devices has a democratizing effect as they offer citizens opportunities of full

engagement in the political process. The implication of the emergence of these media platforms

is that voters/electorates have become more than just passive consumers of digital messages, but

also creators of the messages. Owing to the positive effect of these smart phone platforms,

Nigerian politicians can take full advantage of this instant form of communication to reach the

masses with the aim of assessing the political atmosphere before venturing into the campaign.

Smart phone could be a tool to assess the popularity of a candidate especially by the young

people. Smart phone also provides politicians with the opportunity to be free with and accessible

to the general public. Abubukar (2011) observes that smart phone has created online platforms

that serve as a new “political capital” where people resort to and participate in a political

19
discourse. Kweon and Kim (2010) therefore, emphasize that smart phone has become a main

source of personal orientation, anonymous interactivities and social community on variety of

issues that involve politics and political discourse. Smart phone therefore has the capacity of

boosting participation because of its openness, interactive nature, connectedness, textual and

audio-visual characteristics appeal (Mayfield, 2010 and Bradley, 2009).

2.1.5 The challenges in the use of smart phone as a political platform in Nigeria

In spite of the numerous advantages of smart phone advantages in fostering politics, democracy

and good governance in Nigeria, they equally have their challenges. No doubt, smart phone

platforms can be misused in disseminating unfiltered/unverified information, hate messages and

rumours which are inimical to strengthening democracy. The increasing use of smart phone and

other online tools has indeed led to greater privacy, monitoring as well as regulation challenges

(Ekwe, et al, 2018 as cited in Ajayi & Adesote, 2022). For instance, a viral video of immoral

conduct or lurid sex photo can instantly infect a political campaign or career, dooming it to

untimely termination. Anonymity of sources makes it difficult for strict regulation, monitoring

and prosecution of illicit acts. This makes it a vulnerable instrument for perpetuating fraudulent

acts. It also promotes piracy. This is partly because the question of copyright and intellectual

property are more complex and difficult to define and even more difficult to regulate online.

Similarly, images and sounds can be digitally manipulated, so truth and reality are difficult to

ascertain. Smart phone is addictive in nature, making work/life balance hard to achieve. With the

new technologies, users get more than they bargain for because of their information overload and

social network overload. Kidafa, Odoemelam and Elechi (2011) observe that “regulating

traditional media in the face of issues like obscenity, copyright, right to privacy, was upheaval

(sic), but have become more difficult with the emergence of social media”. How to effect

20
censorship without being seen as abridging rights and derailing democracy is a dilemma for the

politicians and government officials. It is also important to reflect on the ways that ICTs are

actually being used to counter democratic processes, because so doing can help develop

understanding of the policies that need to be in place to resist such actions. There is increasing

understanding that it is not just companies and governments that can use smart phone for

negative purposes, and that individuals and small groups could use it for bullying, digital

“monstering” or violent actions, not to talk of fraudulent or criminal activities (419 in local

parlance). Another challenge is the issue of relatively low penetration and access in the country.

Writing on penetration of new media in Africa, Osuala in Adibe and Odoemelam (2011) notes

that: The diffusion of new technologies in Africa is still at a snail speed such that the gap

between the information rich developed countries and African countries continue to increase

everyday. Africa has 13% of world population but only 2% of the world telephone lines and 1%

internet connectivity. Consequently, most African countries have not been able to reap the

abundant benefits of the global information revolution in many areas of life. The picture painted

above is still largely unchanged. Again, in many parts of Nigeria where smart phone(such as,

twitter, facebook) is in use, it is still mainly an urban affair and mostly elitist. This development

must have informed the Nigerian government’s promotion of e-government through the

establishment of a Ministry of Communication Technology to drive this initiative by deploying

ICT to enhance transparency, efficiency, productivity and citizen engagement (Aginam, 2014).

Two flagship projects – Government Service Portal (GSP) and Government Contact Centre

(GCC) have been initiated to achieve the following objectives:

i. Deploying GSP to create a single point of entry to Federal Government Services

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 ii. Enhancing accountability and improving the delivery and quality of public services

through technologyenabled civic engagement (Mobile Technology, Facebook, Twitter,

Interactive Mapping, Bloggs, wiki etc)

iii. Transforming government processes to increase public administration efficiency; iv.

Increasing end-user productivity by integrating many different services or data access

paths of ministries, departments and agencies (MDA);

iv. Facilitating efficient response to citizens through the Government Contact Centers (GCC)

being set up in the six geo-political zones of the country (Aginam, 2014).

So far 10 government processes from the Federal Ministries of Education; Health; Agriculture;

Industry, Trade and Investments; and Communication Technology have been automated while

the pre-incorporation and post-incorporation processes of the Corporate Affairs Commission

(CAC) and online payment on the Government Service Portal are currently being automated

(Aginam, 2014).

Furthermore many top government officials, including the President, now have websites and do

interact with people on facebook and twitter either directly or through their assistants. Without

doubt these efforts must have assisted Nigeria’s upward movement in the 2014 UN e-

government ranking from 162 in 2012 to 141 out of 193 countries (Aginam, 2014).

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2.2 Theoretical Framework

Technological Determinism Theory

The concept technological determinism theory‟ explains the setting of this study. The

theory which was propounded by Marshall McLuhan (1964), a Canadian communication

scholar, who observed new media technologies in communication, would soon determine social

changes, turning the world into a global village. He believes socio-political, economic and

cultural changes are inevitably based on development and diffusion of technology. McLuhan

argued technology undoubtedly causes specific changes on how people think, how society is

structured and the form of culture created. This theory portends that, given the emergence of

Internet and its adoption and relevance in mobilizing people for political activities, there is

bound to be an impact on the electoral process and overall political environment.

Communication is the basic tenet of technological determinism theory. The theory seeks to

explain social and historical phenomena in terms of the principal determining factor

(technology). The theory states that communication technologies in general are the prime causes

of changes in society. Reinforcing this position, Chandler (1995) affirms that technological

determinists interpret technology in general and communication technologies in particular as the

basis of society in the past, present and even the future. However, as far as communication is

concerned, we are increasingly dealing with a world without frontiers. The amazing

technological revolution, which McLuhan was so fascinated about, has not stood still, same goes

to the people that handle the process and what they do (Oliver, 2011). According to Baran

(2004), technological determinism is the thinking in some quarters that it is machine and their

development that drive historical, economic political and cultural changes. There is however, a

perspective to technological determinism, which sees technology as more neutral and claim the

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way people use it is what gives it significance. This perspective that accepts technology as one of

the many factors that shape historical, economic, political and cultural changes is ultimately

determined by how much power it is given by the people and cultures that use it (Baran, 2004).

These two perspectives of technological determinism pose an important question: are we more or

less powerless in the wake of technological advances like Internet? If we are at the mercy of

technology as the former perspective argues, the culture that surrounds us will not be of our

making, and the best we can hope to do is to make our way reasonably well in a world outside

our own control. But if these technological advances are indeed neutral and their power resides

in how we choose to use them as maintained by the latter perspective, we can utilize them

responsibly and thoughtfully to construct and maintain whatever culture we want. In relation to

this study therefore, the theory presupposes that since there are other countervailing factors that

restrain and shape the effect or influence of new media, the latter perspective of this theory is

more appropriate in this study.

Social Judgment Theory

Social Judgment Theory suggests that exposure to political campaigns encourage people to

“assimilate” or equate their feelings about related target attitudes. According to Iyengar and Prior

(1999), negative or positive reactions to political advertising or campaigns is coloured by the

attitudinal disposition of the target audience at the point of exposure. The theory is of the view

that Nigerian voters as rational stakeholders should make necessary judgment on how to perceive

or react to these messages depending on how it conforms to their pre-existing attitudes on their

expectations from politics. Smart phone messages targeted at ensuring democracy, eradicating

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poverty, providing of employment and guaranteeing security which are the basic expectation of

the youths in the present day Nigeria stand a chance of being accepted by them and get

influenced thereafter. Likewise messages emphasizing some lapses of the government in power

may trigger negative reactions from the electorate.

2.3 Empirical studies

Mohsen (2015) conducted research in Egypt on the uses of smart phones and their sociopolitical

implications on Egyptian society The research findings clarified that in terms of mobilization of

Egyptians in the form of assembling for protests smart phones played a role in both coordinating

local groups and recording events through videos and pictures. The fast dissemination of

information through mobile smart phones means that during the revolution mobile smart phones

have not only been useful and essential for recording and sharing events however, youths and

media experts used them as tools to engage, organize, mobilize, and inform people by citizen

groups and activists around the world in advocacy and social action campaigns. Using this

medium meant that real time pictures could be video streamed and uploaded and sent to news

agencies across the world. Within seconds, newsfeeds could pick up on massacres, beatings and

state sponsored suppression, all with the flick of a handset and with the video footage uploaded

in the same handset. “Many demonstrators simply hand the ‘world in the palm of their hands’

when they recorded such information. Applying the concepts of mobile media, citizen journalism

and citizen media there millions of photos, blogs, and videos worldwide created and uploaded

daily as a form of personal expression and commentary. The findings also show that smart

phones mobiles also facilitate and pave the way to professional journalism and allow everyday

citizens to participate in reporting Since many web-based services couple with mobile phones for

immediate posting of media, local citizens who have mobile phone access can become citizen

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journalists without a computer or access to an Internet connection. Hence, the Egyptian political

landscape is being framed and molded through the eyes of the people on the ground. So citizens’

participation to news making and having several options for news items result in fragmenting the

media landscape resulting in the creation of sociopolitical awareness towards political issues

during and after the Egyptian revolution

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 CHAPTER THREE

METHOD AND PROCEDURE

3.0 INTRODUCTION

This chapter deals with the general procedure used to carry out this study. The detailed

issues includes the research design to be used for the study, the population of the study,

sample size determination, research instrument, sampling procedure, methods of data

collection, validity and reliability of data instrument and data analysis. Data were collected

using structured questionnaire and while mean score was use for data analysis.

3.1 DESIGN OF THE STUDY

Research design is a blueprint or a plan of action design for collecting, presenting and

analyzing data in research work. The research design adopted in this study is survey method such

as questionnaire that will be distributed to the residence of Amuwo Odo Fin. This research is

conducted to assess the impact of smart phone on citizen political awareness during Nigeria 2023

general election among the residence of Amuwo Odo fin Local Council Development Area of

Lagos State.

3.2 POPULATION OF THE STUDY

The population of the study is the total group of all individuals who fit into a

group by some pre- set criterion, Adeosun & Udabah, (2013). The population of this study consist

of the all the residence of Amuwo Odo fin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.

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3.3 SAMPLE AND SAMPLING PROCEDURE

Due to the large number of community members communities that make up Amuwo Odo

fin Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, coupled with time, financial constraints,

the researcher pegged the sample size to 200. This size stands to represent the whole residence.

The size afforded the researcher the comfort and ease to analyze all data gathered through

questionnaire.

The sampling procedure used for the study is convenient sampling technique. The

respondents are from all works of life to be able to get valid and accurate data for analysis.

3.4 RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS.

For the purpose of this study, the researcher makes use of Respondents’ Questionnaire

(RQ) as an instrument for data collection. The instrument consists of two parts: the descriptive

and the analytical part. The descriptive part consists of respondent’s bio-data while the analytical

part consists of twenty questions in all, which is sub divided into four headings and each

headings has five questions which is design using likert scale format with four options:

SA- Strongly agree (4)

Agree (3)

D- Disagree (2)

SD- Strongly disagree (1)

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3.5 VALIDITY OF THE INSTRUMENT

The content validity of the instrument was sought through subjecting the items of the

questionnaire to experts’ judgment. The initial draft of the instrument was presented to the

researcher’s supervisor. The experts were to add or delete (relevant or irrelevant) item or items in

the draft or modify existing ones to suit the purpose of the study. The independent correction and

suggestions were used in producing the final copy of the questionnaire.

3.6 PROCEDURE FOR DATA COLLECTION.

The researcher went to the selected places in Amuwo Odo fin Local Council

Development Area of Lagos State, which are churches, mosques, residence of traditional leaders

and market. Letter seeking for permission to administer the structured questionnaires to the

parishioner, Muslims faithful, residence and traders were written. The letter was addressed to

the heads of selected group and permission granted. The researcher trains two research assistants

who helped her to administer the questionnaire to respondents in other to ensure effectiveness

and efficiency in the in the data collected and to ensure that the all administered questionnaires

are returned by the respondents.

3.7 SAMLPING TECHNIQUES.

The random sampling technique was used and is a probability technique such that, the

probability of an element is being included in the sample is independent of the probability of any

other element in the sample. After obtaining the sample frame, which is numbered serially, the

investigator draws the sample using the lottery method. The reason for adopting this technique is

to reduce the sample size needed as well as reduced the risk of being unbiased.

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3.8 METHOD FOR DATA ANALYSIS.

The study made use of simple percentage to calculate each questionnaire items. Each of

the items were given marks and calculated based on the number of questionnaires returned. The

formula for determining the returned questionnaires is given thus:

Returned questionnaires ×100

Total number of questionnaires administered.

It should be noted that percentage concerns only the returned questionnaires. The

unreturned questionnaires are not calculated.

The research questions where analyzed using mean score which is given thus:

Σ fx /f

The hypothesis of this research work was calculated using non-parametric

statistics chi squares of goodness of fit represented as X2 the formula is represented thus:

X2¿ ∑ ( f 0−fe ) 2 /fe

Where X2 = Chi square statistic

∑ = sum of

Fo = Observed frequencies

Fe = Expected frequencies

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