1 Department of Journalism, University of Uyo, PMB 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Strategic and Corporate Communication, University of Uyo, PMB 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 18(03), 1541–1551
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2023.18.3.1194
Received on 12 May 2023; revised on 27 June 2023; accepted on 30 June 2023
This paper analyzed the place of interpersonal communication as a means of tackling voter apathy among Nigerian youths. The study is a survey. Survey was used to analyze how interpersonal communication can be used as a means to tackle voter apathy among residents of Akwa Ibom state. The population of this study was 384 residents in Uyo Urban. The study investigated the causes of voter apathy among youths in Uyo, the extent interpersonal communication influences voter turnout and political behavior among youths in Uyo and the sources of interpersonal communication that are most effective in influencing youths’ behavior and decision. The results from this study not only revealed that interpersonal communication influenced the electorate voting behavior during the 2023 general elections, it was also the greatest influence on the political behavior of the electorates. Also, the results showed that individuals who discussed voting more often had more positive attitude towards voting and were more likely to vote in an election. The study, among others, recommends that politicians and political parties should strive to inculcate interpersonal communication as a key component in political campaigns because it not only helps to eliminate voter apathy, it also creates an opportunity for the electorates and the politicians, to have a face-to-face interaction, which would otherwise, be impossible with mass media.
Voter apathy; Political communication; Interpersonal communication; Voter behaviour; Persuasion; Argumentation
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Nsikak S. Idiong, Princess Aniekan Utuk and Etimbuk Ebong Idiong. Interpersonal communication as a means of tackling voter apathy among Nigerian youths. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2023, 18(3), 1541-1551. Article DOI: https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2023.18.3.1194