Authoritarian Nature of the People’s Democratic Party on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic (1999-2015)

  • Muktar Bashir UUM
Keywords: Authoritarian, Elections, FRCN, Media, Nigeria

Abstract

This article empirically discusses the Authoritarian nature of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic between 1999-2015. It employed qualitative method as a means of data collection and analysis. The primary data was generated via in-depth Interviews with relevant stakeholders who were purposively selected. Secondary data was also utilized to compliment the interviews. The article is written within the purview of the Authoritarian theory of communication and it was found that FRCN between the period under study has been dominated, controlled and dictated by the ruling PDP, reporting issues unethically. The outfit was mostly dancing to the tune of the party in power (PDP). It is recommended that FRCN should not be directly controlled by the government or party in power. Also, a law should be put in place to make it discharge its responsibility of communicating vital, truthful and objective information fairly for the people to be equipped with factual information capable of bringing the needed informed decision particularly during elections.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Article Analytics Summary

References

Amadi, T & Atoyebi, A. (2001). Radio Nigeria: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Abuja, Nigeria: Northwood resources limited.

Atoyebi, A. (2001). The Origin of Radio Nigeria. Abuja, Nigeria: Northwood resources limited.

Barker-Plummer, B. (1995). News as a Political Resource: Media Strategies and Political Identity in the U.S. Women’s Movement, 1966-1975. Critical Studies in Mass Communication, (12), 306–324. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295039509366939 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15295039509366939

Bratton, M. (2008). Vote buying and violence in Nigerian election campaigns. Electoral Studies, 27(4), 621–632. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261379408000589 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2008.04.013

Chen, H. T., Ping, S., & Chen, G. (2015). Far from reach but near at hand: The role of social media for cross-national mobilization. Computers in Human Behavior, 53, 443–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.05.052 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.05.052

Ellison, N., & Hardey, M. (2014). Social Media and Local Government: Citizenship, Consumption and Democracy. Local Government Studies, 40(1), 21–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2013.799066 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930.2013.799066

European Union Election Observer Mission. (2003). Nigeria Presidential and Gubernatorial Elections 2003. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved from http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/committees/afet/20030520/Nigeria 2nd Preliminary Statement.pdf

Fan, K., & Pedrycz, W. (2017). Evolution of public opinions in closed societies influenced by broadcast media. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications, 472, 53–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2017.01.027 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2017.01.027

Ihonvbere, J. (1999). The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria: The Limitations of undemocratic Constitution-making. Abuja, Nigeria.

Kent, M. L. (2013). Using social media dialogically: Public relations role in reviving democracy. Public Relations Review, 39(4), 337–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2013.07.024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2013.07.024

Kunczick, M. (1988). Concepts of Journalism: North and Sourth. Friedrich Ebert-Stifling.

Kur, J., & Endwell, O. (2015). Television Broadcasting and the Democratization Process in Nigeria: The Successful and Unsuccessful Story. Online Journal of Communication And, 5(4), 116–146. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/openview/5753bb581cec0656338005ea7d7ceb38/1?pq-origsite=gscholar DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/ojcmt/2529

Lal, K. (2017). Investigating ICT infrastructure to develop an information society in India. Universal Access in the Information Society, 16(2), 517–528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-016-0472-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-016-0472-1

Lievrouw, L. (2011). Alternative and activist media. Media. Edinburgh University Press. https://doi.org/10.1163/156916307X189068 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156916307X189068

Mancini, P. (2013). Media Fragmentation, Party System, and Democracy. International Journal of Press/Politics, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/1940161212458200 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1940161212458200

McDermott, R., Fowler, J. H., & Smirnov, O. (2008). On the Evolutionary Origin of Prospect Theory Preferences. The Journal of Politics, (2), 335. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381608080341 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022381608080341

Mission, E. U. E. O. (2011). Report on the Nigerian 2011 General Elections.

National Broadcasting Commission. (2012). Nigerian Broadcasting Code. Lagos: Planet Press Ltd.

Oboh, G. E. (2016). Reflecting on the Nigerian Media, Elections, and the African Democracy. SAGE Open, 6(3), 215824401666688. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016666886 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244016666886

Olukotun, A. (2002). Authoritarian state, crisis of democratization and the underground media in Nigeria. African Affairs, 101(404), 317–342. https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/101.404.317 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/101.404.317

Olukoyun, A. (2004). Media Accountability and Democracy in Nigeria, 1999-2003. African Studies Review, 47(3), 69–90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0002020600030456

Richards, L. (2015). Handling Qualitative Data: A Practical Guide (2nd ed.). SAGE Publication.

Santas, T., & Ogoshi, J. (2016). An Appraisal of Mass Media Role in Consolidating Democracy in Nigeria. African Research Review, 10(1), 73–86. Retrieved from http://www.ajol.info/index.php/afrrev/article/view/129819 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v10i1.7

Seawnght, J., & Gerring, J. (2008). Case selection techniques in case study research: A menu of qualitative and quantitative options. Political Research Quarterly, 61(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912907313077 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912907313077

Siebert, F; Peterson, T & Schramm, W. (1956). Four Theories of the Press. Urbana III: University of Illinois Press.

Silver, C., & Lewins, A. (2014). The Nature of Software Support for Research Projects. In Using software in qualitative research : a step-by-step guide (2nd ed., pp. 35–60). Los Angeles: SAGE Publication. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473906907.n3

Stevens, D., Bishin, B. G., & Barr, R. R. (2006). Authoritarian attitudes, democracy, and policy preferences among Latin American elites. American Journal of Political Science, 50(3), 606–620. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00204.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2006.00204.x

Uche, L. U. (1989). Mass Media, People and Politics. Lagos, Nigeria: Malthouse press Ltd.

Published
2019-06-30
How to Cite
Bashir, M. (2019). Authoritarian Nature of the People’s Democratic Party on Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic (1999-2015). Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, 5(1), 99-106. https://doi.org/10.26710/jbsee.v5i1.553