The Impact of Radio Campaigns Against Vote Buying among Youth in Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory During the 2023 Presidential Election

Abstract

Vote buying continues to be a major problem in Nigeria’s elections, especially among young people aged 18–35. This study explores how effective radio campaigns were in reducing vote buying among youth in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the 2023 presidential election. The research used a descriptive survey design, gathering data from 400 respondents across the six area councils in the FCT through a multi-stage sampling method. Results showed that 67% of youth had a high level of awareness about the radio campaigns, and 59% listened to them regularly. Importantly, 79% of respondents said the radio messages influenced them to reject vote buying. The study finds that radio campaigns play a strong role in promoting awareness about electoral integrity among young voters. However, challenges such as poverty (41%) and limited radio access (23%) reduced the full impact of the campaigns. The study recommends improving radio access in underserved areas and strengthening the content of anti-vote buying messages. Overall, the research provides an empirical contribution that radio remains a powerful tool in shaping youth attitudes and behaviours during elections in Nigeria.