Mass media, Political propaganda and political campaign messages in Nigerian societies: assessment of Political Stakeholders Perceptions in Selected Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Southwest Zone, Nigeria.

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VIII, August 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Mass media, Political propaganda and political campaign messages in Nigerian societies: assessment of Political Stakeholders Perceptions in Selected Local Government Areas of Oyo State, Southwest Zone, Nigeria.

Dr. Titiloye Oyeyinka Ojo¹, Dr. Yetunde. O. Ayoboluis², Onaopepo, Bamidele Ibrahim MSc³

¹Department of Mass Communication, Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

²Department of Mass Communication, Kola Daisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

³ Public Relations and Advertising practitioner residing in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract
The study examined the Nigerian Mass media use of political propaganda messages and the assessment of stakeholders’ perceptions concerning the messages in selected Local Government Areas of Oyo State. The study employed survey and structured interview methods with the use of questionnaire and interview guide as instruments. 250 questionnaires were distributed while 210 copies were returned and validated for final analysis Simple random sampling technique was adopted for the drawing of the sample size from the universe population. Descriptive Statistics was adopted for the data analysis. Responses obtained from the interviewees were transcribed and qualitative analysis carried out in line with the research questions. Pearson Moment Products Correlation was utilized for the test of hypothesis formulated in the study. The study found out that Nigerian Mass media are always used as tool for promoting political propaganda messages(46.5%) and that filtering of propaganda messages have overshadowed their media responsible activities (55.3%).It revealed that the consequence of the propaganda messages are negative which result to maladministration, socio-economic problems, and moral decadence. The study concluded that Nigerian mass media compromised corrupt practices that negate media ethical conducts and professionalism. In addition, Nigerian media has often been hijacked by political office holders to manipulate elections. The study recommended that mass media should desist from propaganda messages and try to set agendas for politicians and political parties. Moreover, they should avert contents of deceit capable of heating up polity. Also, voters should be firm in their choice of office seekers and finally, government should step up actions on media regulations.

Keywords: Mass media, Political propaganda, Stakeholders’ perceptions, Assessment, Electorates

Introduction

Propaganda became more popular in political arenas especially messages that have to do with public information campaigns by government and politicians in a bid to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information that is presented. In the twentieth century, the term propaganda has been associated with a manipulative approach, but propaganda was an ancient neutral descriptive term (Diggs-Brown,201??). Mass media are used for conveying propaganda messages using loaded languages to change people’s emotions, attitudes and behaviours towards elections and government policies.

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