Abstract
The research examines the impact of radio on
mobilization of the electorate for elections with a study of Ibadan North Local
Government. Without doubt mass media particularly radio plays a very prominent
role in political and socio-economic development of society. Because of the accessibility of radio signal in every nooks
and crannies of society it is very rich in educating, enlightening, mobilizing
the electorates for political participation. Survey research method was adopted
coupled with 100 copies of questionnaire that were printed and administered to
the respondents in Ibadan North local government in which 90 copies were
returned. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (tables,
frequency and percentage method. Findings showed that mass media
especially radio provides avenue for the illiterate citizen to get information
about political activities, it did educate and sensitize masses on various
activities such as registration, how to handle voter’s card, what to wear
during election, how to participate in political rally and campaign, to the
activities on election day, coverage of election result, coverage of post-election
activities like violence and tribunal. In short it brings electoral activities
to the door step of the electorate. It is therefore
recommended that there should be more radio to serve different taste and
language and radio should be free from few influential politicians to avoid
turning the media into tools of propaganda.
