
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XIII October 2025 | Special Issue on Communication
www.rsisinternational.org
dependence” (Hangali and Kriesi, 2018 cited in Ogbodo, Ugbo, Duru, & Jibrin, 2021). The existing literature
has therefore shown that the mass media can influence the voting habits of voters because they serve the purpose
of media literacy for elections (Zannu et al., 2024). However, elections provide a forum for the discussion of
public opinion on important issues. Elections allow an exchange of influence between leaders and the electorate
(Nwaozuzu 1999 as cited in Ezegwu, Ezeji, Chukwuemeka, and Chime-Nganya, 2024). This statement captures
the relevant functions of the broadcast media in elections which serves as a mobilizing of all the different people
in society and at the same time co-ordinate the activities as they are made to express their views about candidates
who are contesting for political positions. The broadcast media through their programmes create avenues
through which the people express their views about candidates. There may be phone calls in programmes like
radio link, state of the nation, or debate programmer responsible or otherwise and has made people pass on
topical political issues. The broadcast media is one of the most strategic means of wining the hearts and minds
of the electorate who are the determinants and king makers in any democratic, free, fair and transparently credible
election” (Kediehor, 2019, p. 211). The electorate generally relies on the broadcast media during electioneering
campaigns to provide the needed information for them to make well-versed decisions. The mass media
through their fundamental functions educate the electorate (Asemah, 2011 cited in Tsegyu, 2020). They serve as
a vital link between political candidates and the electorate. Media serves as a platform for political parties and
their candidates to campaign for votes. Through their coverage of political activities, the public can make wise
choices for the political candidates and parties to vote for. The media plays a crucial role in informing the public
about politics, campaigns, and elections. The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC)
conducted the local government election on September 28, 2024, in the 21 local government areas of the State.
The last time a local government election took place in Anambra was in 2014 during the administration of former
governor Peter Obi. Over 100 candidates from various political parties contested the election. Before the election,
the LGAs had been under the control of the Caretaker Transition Committee Chairman since 2014, appointed
for a specific term by the governor (Obianeri, 2024). However, prominent among the various media that reported
the 2024 Anambra LG election in Anambra State were the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Anambra
Broadcasting Service (ABS) Purity FM Awka, Radio Sapientia FM Onitsha, Authority Radio Nnewi, Ogene
FM Awka, among others. These broadcast stations in Anambra State covered campaigns by the various political
parties, reported various information from the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) as
well as other activities regarding the election including the transmission of results. The audience often form their
perception of issues and the media credibility based on how such issues are reported. The implication is that the
way broadcast media stations covered the 2024 Anambra State election has continued to attract lots of
commentaries from the public which could affect audience retention and perception. Therefore, to the best of the
researchers knowledge, empirical evidence on Anambra residents’ knowledge and perception of broadcast media
coverage of 2024 local government elections seems unavailable despite the high level of importance of such
engagement. This constituted a critical knowledge gap which this article is set to addressed.
Broadcast media have a reputation for having a significant impact on the populace, particularly with how
individuals participate in the electoral. The mass media can impact our cognitive processes. Some related studies
have been carried out on elections and media, such as Nnaane (2024), Zannu, Talabi, Aderibigbe, Bello,
Okunade, Aiyesimoju, Olley and Ogah, (2024), Ezegwu, Ezeji, Chukwuemeka & Chime-Nganya (2024) etc.
None of these studies evaluated the knowledge and perception of broadcast media coverage of the 2024 local
government elections in Anambra state. Residents of the state under study depended heavily on the media for
news. This allows them to create ideologies and make informed decisions based on the information relayed by
the media. In light of the above, this study seeks to examine the following;
1. Find out the level of exposure and knowledge of the residents to broadcast media coverage of 2024
local government elections in Anambra State
2. Ascertain the media channels through which the residents accessed the coverage.
3. Find out how Anambra residents perceive the broadcast media coverage.
4. Determine the level of effectiveness of the broadcast media coverage of the 2024 local government
election.
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This research work is anchored on two theories namely: Agenda setting and the perception theories.