The Influence of Social Media Platforms on the Spread of Political Propaganda and Misinformation in Nigeria's 2023 Presidential Election; Implications for Future Elections

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/09/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 4 (2026)

Article No.

036

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-VPRKUXIZ

Received

22 Aug 2026

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6

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0

Abstract

The 2023 Nigerian presidential election witnessed unprecedented use of social media platforms as vehicles for political propaganda and misinformation. This study investigates how platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Whats-App influenced the dissemination of biased narratives and deceptive content during the election period. The problem centre’s on understanding the extent to which social media shaped voter perceptions and potentially impacted electoral integrity. The objective is to explore the mechanisms of propaganda spread, identify patterns of misinformation, and assess implications for future electoral processes in Nigeria. Using a qualitative methodology, this research relies on content analysis of social media posts, newspapers reports and internets materials. This approach facilitates an in-depth understanding of how misinformation circulates and affects public opinion during critical political events. The study adopts the Agenda-Setting Theory as a theoretical framework, which explains how media influences public priorities by highlighting specific issues, thereby shaping perception and behaviour among audiences. Key findings reveal: (1) social media platforms served as primary channels for rapid dissemination of politically motivated misinformation; (2) coordinated campaigns by partisan actors exploited algorithmic biases to amplify divisive and false content; (3) many voters lacked sufficient media literacy to critically evaluate the authenticity of online information, increasing vulnerability to propaganda. Recommendations include: (1) strengthening digital literacy programs nationwide to empower voters in discerning credible information online; (2) enhancing regulatory frameworks to obligate social media companies to monitor and curb the spread of harmful misinformation; (3) fostering collaboration between electoral bodies, civil society, and technology firms to deploy real-time fact-checking and public awareness campaigns during elections.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.