Interpersonal communication as a means of tackling voter apathy among Nigerian youths

Abstract

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.