Assessment of African Independent Television`s (AIT’s) 2015 Presidential Election Campaign Influence on Voter’s Participation in Asaba Metropolis of Delta State

Abstract

This study assessed African Independent Television`s (AIT‟s) 2015 presidential election campaign influence on voters‟ participation in Asaba Metropolis of Delta State. The thrust of the study was to understand from the stand point of empiricism whether indeed AIT‟s campaigns in the 2015 presidential election influenced voters participation in the election. The study was hinged on the Uses and Gratifications theory. The survey research method was used in carrying out the study. A sample size of 399 respondents was purposively selected from the population of Asaba residents. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for gathering data for the study. Data collected through the questionnaire were presented in tables and analysed using frequency and percentages while the hypothesis were tested using the chi-square statistical formula. The study found, among others, that a significant proportion of the A Journal of Theatre & Media Studies Vol. 2. No. 2, December, 2017 85 respondents had a good exposure to AIT‟s 2015 presidential election campaign, and that their exposure indeed influenced their participation in the election as attested to by the result of the presidential election in Asaba. The study recommends, among others, that television stations should avoid projecting candidates who have nothing to offer the electorate, and that AIT must always give equal opportunities to all candidates and should avoid airing hate speeches of contending candidates during electioneering campaigns