DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

This study comparatively examined the politics, governance and development in pre colonial and post-colonial Nigeria. Politics is conceived as the study of the state and its institutions and the relationship these institutions have with the people living in the state. Governance refers to the activity, process or quality of governing. Development is concerned with changes in environment, health, economy, politics, social and cultures that create and supports lives. This study was qualitative, relying on secondary materials such as books, articles, newspapers and other secondary materials. The study found that politics in pre-colonial and post-colonial Nigeria are significantly different. While both can boast of operating under checks and balances, the principle was more entrenched and respected in the pre-colonial period than in this contemporary post-colonial period. In post-colonial Nigeria, various institutions appear to be serving the interest of the executive headed by a president who wields so much power. It was also found that governance in pre-colonial Nigeria and post-colonial Nigeria are different in that in pre colonial period, governance was based on decentralized and centralized system. The exigency of power depended on the region or community. In post-colonial Nigeria, the governance system is characterized by high corruption, foreign domination, exclusion and socio-economic crisis. Leadership is a very big challenge since independence orchestrating agitations from the people. Lastly, it was found that development in pre colonial Nigeria and post-colonial Nigeria are different in that in pre-colonial period. Development during pre-colonial period was seen in the areas of commerce and trade which provided the needed harmony and peace for communal living. Whereas in post colonial Nigeria, there have been preponderance of poverty, malnutrition, insecurity, health-related issues, rapid inflation and poor infrastructure. The study therefore recommended that there is need for the current post-colonial Nigerian government to revert to the era of agriculture-based economy; entrench the principle of checks and balances that would address tyranny and entrench accountability and transparency in the public dealing and the political system of Nigeria should reflect the ethnic, religious and socio-economic background of the people.

Social media has become a force in democratic ideals around the world, drastically changing how people communicate politically and engage in public discourse around the world. Scientific analysis has focused on the exponential rise in social media users over the years. There were 5.24 billion social media users globally at the start of the year 2025, with annualized growth of 4.1 per cent of new users. In July 2024, for instance, about 123 Nigerians (more than half of the population) are registered internet users, with about 84 per cent of internet traffic generated through mobile devices. Among the users, the youth dominate the demographic population of internet users. This study attempted to examine the impact of social media on youths’ political participation in the 2023 presidential election in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. Participation in politics remains pivotal in the sustenance of a nation’s democracy. The study utilized a structured questionnaire to draw data from a random sample of 400 respondents. A theory of Uses and Gratification was deployed to assess youths' motivation for social media use during the election. The findings showed that different forms of social media technologies were used by the youth to participate in the 2023 presidential elections in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, such as WhatsApp, TikTok. Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Secondly, the findings showed that social media use facilitated the youth’s dissemination of political information in the 2023 presidential election in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State by enabling them to get and send information, campaign for their preferred candidate and debate with their social media users. The third finding showed that social media use influenced the youth’s choice of candidate in the 2023 presidential election in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State by helping them to choose their right candidate in the 2023 presidential election in the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State. The last finding revealed that different challenges were encountered by the youths while using the social media platforms. These include the government’s unnecessary social media censorship, high data tariff, persistent network glitches, epileptic power supply, fake news and cyber stalking and bullying. The study recommends a need for increased advocacy on the use of social media during elections; a need to address the menace of fake news, cyberbullying and stalking and false information using social media platforms; and a need for the Nigerian government to ensure that the youths’ fundamental rights of free speech and association are preserved.