In the race to find President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor ahead of the 2023 general election, politicians across all divides and regions are engaging the populace on social media to sell their candidature.
A new media, baseline research and communication outfit, Grand Plan, stated this in its new monthly social media engagement report.
The research and new media communication outfit, which spoke through its Executive Director Abdulrazaq Hamzat, said the monthly social media engagement ratings will help to keep tab on the activities of political leaders across the country.
Following the recent ban on Twitter, Nigerian politicians have become more active on Facebook as most of them have made the platform their preferred medium of communication with the populace.
Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world with over 2.8 billion users; it is also the most popular social media platform in Nigeria with over 65 per cent control.
“While there are over 104 million internet users in Nigeria, only 33 million of them are on social media with Facebook, having over 30 per cent of the total internet users and more than 95 per cent of social media users, with its over 31 million Facebook users in Nigeria, some of whom also use other social media platforms, such as Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, among others.
As 2023 general election in Nigeria approaches and the search for President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor thickens, a businessman and former presidential candidate, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has become most vocal and engaging political leader on cyberspace.
He has been discussing critical issues of statehood, economic development and national unity, while also proffering solutions on how to develop the country and keep it safe.
In a recent report released by Grand Plan, Olawepo-Hashim is rated as trailing President Muhammadu Buhari, who is completing his second term in office in 2023.
The monthly social media rating of political engagements on Facebook platform, showed that President Buhari and Olawepo-Hashim are leading as the most engaging political leaders in the country.
In the statistics quoted by Grand Plan, President Buhari maintains the top position with over 296,000+ engagement, followed by Olawepo-Hashim with 98,000+ engagement.
The data released on July 27, 2021 in Abuja by Grand Plan shows that other political figures and presidential hopefuls, lke former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar recorded 53,000+ engagement and ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki recorded 48,000+engagement.
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, who has also indicated interest in the presidency, recorded 37,000+ engagement, while Ekiti State governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, had 6,000+ engagement on Facebook.
Grand Plan maintained that the data on each of the candidates was realistic because “Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in 2023”.
Hamzat said: “Increasing engagements imply voters’ growing interest in the candidates while a decreasing result reflects voters’ disenchantment.”
“Additionally, contrary to popular belief, which claimed that suspended microblogging platform, Twitter, is the platform for youths in the country, available records show that Facebook still remains the dominant social media platform for young adults.”
He added: “Sixty-five per cent of Facebook users are under the age of 35, which means that they fall under the age demographic of Millennials and Generation Z.
“It is also important to note that between 25 and 34 year-olds accounted for 32.5 per cent of Facebook users, whereas just 2.9 per cent of users were aged between 55 and 64 years old.”
Grand Plan noted that Olawepo-Hashim’s growing engagement is a measure of voters’ interest in him ahead of 2023, as he discusses policy issues that many consider important.
“At a time when the country is in need of real leaders, Olawepo-Hashim has stepped forward early enough with clarity of thought and serious governance proposals, putting his ideas forward to the Nigerian people for scrutiny,” Hamzat said.
The monthly social media rating of political figures by Grand Plan will be released in the last week of every month.
