ROLE OF TELEVISION IN ELECTORAL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

1.1    INTRODUCTION:

Historically, television broadcasting in Nigeria has been used as a medium of communication that seeks to enrich the life of average Nigerian by influencing positively it's social, cultural, economic, political and technological thinking. It also provides news and information about national issues. Besides this, it serves as a source of entertainment. Television broadcasting promotes cultural awareness and seeks to preserve Nigeria’s rich culture. Through this medium, artistic and intellectual creativity are developed. Therefore all programs and coverages are audience oriented and guided by the nation's social, political, moral, cultural, scientific, education and economic goals.

In contemporary times television is used as a tool in disseminating information to the people about the electoral process. Such enlightenment is meant to educate voters and members of the society about electioneering campaigns and other issues related to it. The television is been used as an instrument by politicians to advertise themselves to the electorates. Jingles, advert placement, political debates, electoral enlightenment are all done through the television. Other political programs such as focus Nigeria aired on AIT network, Kakaaki and democratic license are all geared towards the education and political enlightenment of the Nigerian electorates. Television broadcasting in electoral education has become inevitable in Nigeria’s political system. This is plausibly correct because political and electoral programs have recently become the democratic watchdog of our political system, criticism, debates, and discontents are all channeled through television.

To this end, the role of television in electoral education cannot be overemphasized, as it remained one of the viable options towards the monitoring of our electoral system.