Facebook and Political Participation in Nigeria. a Study of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration

ABSTRACT
The emergence of the facebook is a major phenomenon that has transformed the interaction, communication and sharing of information between people throughout the world. However, evidence indicates that internet use has provided an additional channel for citizens to engage politically with each other and their government, Nigeria is not left out in this wave, this provoked our curiosity to investigate the effects of facebook on political participation in Nigeria under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. The data for the study were gathered from secondary source while the research was anchored on Use and Gratification Theory that stresses that facebook users selectively engage media that posses the features that can satisfy their needs at that point in time. The study finds out that facebook increased the coast of political participation within the period under study(2010-2015). This was evident in the electioneering processes of 2010 and 2015; as well as in the Bring Back Our Girls’ advocacy; the effect is also noticed during the time of mobilization and sensitization for political action. The study concludes that the positive impact of social media outweighs the negative impact on democratic consolidation. Therefore, the study recommends that Nigerians should further embrace the social media to force political office holders to transparency, accountability and responsibility.