Appraisal of Africa Traditional Media (Oramedia) as Communication Tools for Effective Management of Electoral Violence in Nigeria

Abstract

The study dwelt on an appraisal of the potency of Africa traditional media vehicles (oramedia) as communication tools for effective prevention and management of pre- and post-electoral violence in Nigeria. It was occasioned by the perennial incidence of electoral violence that has characterized general elections in the country since independence. The specific objectives were to: determine the effect of oramedia human-vehicular media as antidote to electoral violence in Nigeria; examine the effect of oramedia traditional anti-violence symbols as tools for preventing electoral violence in Nigeria; and determine the effect of oramedia idiomatic expressions as tools for preventing electoral violence in Nigeria. The study adopted survey design, where primary data were sourced through structured questionnaire. The study area was Portharcourt in the South-South, Kaduna in the North, Aba in the South-East and Lagos in the South-West. The results show that: Oramedia human-vehicular media; oramedia traditional anti-violence symbols and oramedia idiomatic expressions were significantly effective antidote for the prevention and management of electoral violence in Nigeria. Based on these outcomes, it was then recommended that the Nigerian Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), should give priority and devote more resources to the use of Africa traditional media for checkmating pre- and post-electoral violence in the country.