Media visibility major factor in APC 2015 election success

The Nigerian media played a significant role in the success of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 elections as the party dominated media story space between January and March this year, a factor that must have largely influenced the electorates.

A recent research conducted by International Press Centre (IPC) and the Nigeria Press Council (NPC) on the monitoring of the reportage of 2015 elections by 12 national newspapers, seven regional newspapers, four on-line news media and three social media platforms showed that APC enjoyed the greatest media visibility.

For instance, in January, out of a total number of 1,226 political parties’ sources mentioned in all the national dailies reviewed, APC had the greatest slot, having been mentioned 580 times, representing 47.3 percent; PDP was mentioned 464 times, or 37.8 percent; APGA came up 47 times, representing 4 percent; LP, 46 times, or 3.7 percent; UPN, 29 times, or 2.3 percent; AP and PPA were each mentioned 7 times, or 0.5 percent; ADC came up 4 times, representing 0.3 percent; AA, HDP and KOWA parties were each mentioned 2 times, representing 0.1 percent. PPN was mentioned once.

This was not different in February as 15 political parties were used as sources 929 times. The two biggest political parties continued to enjoy the greater media visibility.

Findings by the research showed that APC was used as sources 477 times, representing 51.35 percent; PDP followed as the second most used as sources 335 times, or 36.06 percent; APGA, 37, or 4 percent; LP, 29, or 3.12 percent; UPN, 10, or 1.07 percent; SDP, 9, or 0.96 percent; each of PPA and KOWA was used 8 times, or 0.86 percent; also, each of AA, AD and UPP was used 4 times, representing 0.43 percent; Accord, 3, or 0.32; HDP, 1, or 0.1.

In March, 1,213 sources generated from political parties, again showed APC projected more in the media over other political parties with 701 times, representing 51.44 percent; PDP followed as the second most used as sources 506 times, or 35.61 percent, while each of LP and SDP was used 33 times, or 2.72 percent. They were followed by APGA, 29, or, 2.391 percent; AP, 14, or, 1.154 percent; PPA, 6, or, 0.5 percent; AD, 5 or, 0.824 percent; each of UPN and UPP, 4 times, representing 0.326 percent; KOWA, 3, or 1.49 percent; AA, 2, or, 0.164 percent and PPN, 1 or, 0.082 percent.

On use of under-represented groups such as women, youths, persons living with disabilities and rural dwellers as sources in the coverage of the elections, according to the electoral code, the research also revealed that out the total 7,018 sources used by all national dailies reviewed in January, 95 or 1.3 percent were female politicians’ voices, while male politicians’ statistics represent 42.4 percent, that is, 2,979 voices. Youth were used 72 times while people living with disabilities were used 15 times.

In February, out of a total of 2,657 male and female politicians used as sources in the month, 2,524 were male politicians while 133 were female politicians. It was also the same picture in March as out of a total of 3,066 male and female politician-sources, male politicians were 2,827, while 239 were females. Youths voices were projected 61 times while people living with disabilities received 7 voices.

The 12 newspapers used for the research were Daily Sun, The Nation, National Mirror, Vanguard, The Punch, ThisDay, Daily Independent, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune, Daily Champion, Leadership and Daily Trust.

The seven regional newspapers, which consist of state-owned newspapers and some Abuja-based newspapers are Daily Star, Nigerian Observer, Nigerian Pilot, Abuja Inquirer, Peoples’ Daily, Blueprint and Desert Herald.

The four online news media are The Tide, The Cable, Sahara Reporters and Premium Time, while the three social media platforms are those of Enough-is-Enough Nigeria, Reclaim Naija and INEC.

Daniel Obi