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Exposure to Fake News and its Influence on Voters' Decision: A Study of the 2023 Nigeria's Presidential Elections

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15639087

Keywords:

fake news, online news media, partisanship, election, Nigeria

Abstract

The pervasiveness of online news media within human communication and the relative ease at which information is gathered, processed and disseminated has raised concerns about the truthfulness and objectivity of news reports and how such information shapes a democratic process. This study focused on exposure to fake news by voters and its influence on their voting decisions in Nigeria's 2023 presidential elections.  The paper relied on agenda-setting theory as the theoretical lens for investigating the research problem. The study adopted the survey method using voters from the North Central Geopolitical zone of Nigeria who are of voting age of 18 years or older as the study population. Using the Cochran formula to determine the sample size, the researcher drew 384 respondents for the study, and data collected were analysed using frequency distribution and percentage, the results were presented using tables. Findings showed that a significant number of voters shared fake news during the electioneering period, and the ability of voters to recognise fake news online is low. Also, religion and ethnicity are the key drivers for spreading fake news during elections.

Author Biography

  • Adeyanju Apejoye, Plateau State University

    Department of Mass Communication

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Published

2025-06-11

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 3 (2025): THE PILLAR: JOURNAL OF FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

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Articles

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How to Cite

Apejoye, A. . (2025). Exposure to Fake News and its Influence on Voters’ Decision: A Study of the 2023 Nigeria’s Presidential Elections. THE PILLAR JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, 1(3), 134-154. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15639087