RESEARCH ARTICLE
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Political hibernation in-between elections? Exploring the online communication and mobilisation capacities of Nigeria's political parties
Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi,
Gideon Uchechukwu Igwebueze,
Omomayowa Olawale Abati,
Adeola Opeyemi Ogundotun,
Corresponding Author
Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi
Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Correspondence
Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi, Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGideon Uchechukwu Igwebueze
School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Research Department, Centre for Youth Social Development and Promotion of Amity, Abuja, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorOmomayowa Olawale Abati
Department of Political Science, Kings University, Ode-Omu, Nigeria
Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorAdeola Opeyemi Ogundotun
Department of Political Science, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorTemitayo Isaac Odeyemi,
Gideon Uchechukwu Igwebueze,
Omomayowa Olawale Abati,
Adeola Opeyemi Ogundotun,
Corresponding Author
Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi
Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
Correspondence
Temitayo Isaac Odeyemi, Department of Political Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria; School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorGideon Uchechukwu Igwebueze
School of Law, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Research Department, Centre for Youth Social Development and Promotion of Amity, Abuja, Nigeria
Search for more papers by this authorOmomayowa Olawale Abati
Department of Political Science, Kings University, Ode-Omu, Nigeria
Department of Political Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Search for more papers by this authorAdeola Opeyemi Ogundotun
Department of Political Science, Universität Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
A noteworthy limitation among existing studies on the use of online technologies by political parties is the focus on elections. This study extends the frontiers by examining the extent to which Nigeria's political parties use their websites, as well as Facebook and Twitter platforms to communicate and mobilise citizens during and beyond elections. Using web assessment survey, data collected from the online platforms of registered political parties in February 2015 and February 2017 were analysed—to see trends in online activities during (2015 elections) and outside of elections (2017). The study reveals that the parties are caught in the web of the contradictory possibilities of digital engagement. On the one hand, is an online quiescence in the period between elections, which is premised on poor party institutionalisation. On the other hand, the parties are largely unable to reverse elements of institutionalisation challenges by leveraging digital tools to develop roots in the society and boost their public image. This quandary helps to demonstrate where the Nigerian party system fits in the equalisation versus normalisation debate on the utility of digital tools.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest regarding this article and the research.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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