Premium Times Books, a subsidiary of the Premium Times Group, has launched a new book titled “Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria.” The book, authored by Omoniyi P. Ibietan, will be available in both physical and online bookstores starting Monday morning.
The release date is aligned with the symbolic rituals of June 12, Nigeria’s Democracy Day. With 12 chapters spanning 460 pages, “Cyber Politics” delves into an important period in Nigerian democracy, specifically focusing on the role of social media, social demography, and voting behavior during elections.
Similar to the significant impact of the June 12 event in Nigeria, where the nation attempted to break free from military rule through democratic means, Omoniyi P. Ibietan’s book explores another pivotal moment in the country’s history. This moment involves the emergence of digital culture, particularly the use of the internet and social media, intersecting with the expression of voter choice and influencing Nigeria’s electoral outcomes.
Focusing on the 2015 presidential election, the book provides insightful analyses that shed light on future voting patterns in Nigeria. In the book’s introduction, Dapo Olorunyomi, CEO of the Premium Times Group, praises its exploration of the “digital effect on elections” and highlights how it demonstrates the positive impact of social media on electoral democracy, expanding access to registration, participation, voting, and organization.
Olorunyomi also notes the author’s perspective on the varying appeal of different social media platforms, with WhatsApp being highly influential, Twitter being limited but intense, and Facebook’s suitability for advancing democracy being questionable, given its focus on attention and community rather than a clear commitment to democratic values.
The Foreword of the book, written by Umar Danbatta, a professor and executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, highlights the author’s ability to provide historical context to Nigerian politics and democracy. He also acknowledges the author’s exploration of the relationship between social media and voting behavior, as well as the influence of the social media ecosystem on the electoral process.
Frank Nweke II, a prominent commentator and former Minister of Information and Communication in Nigeria, describes the book as an exceptional work by an intellectual visionary. He believes that the lessons and recommendations presented in the book extend beyond the 2015 Nigerian general elections and can be applied in other contexts.
Omoniyi P. Ibietan, the author of a new book titled “Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria,” has an extensive educational background in Communication Arts. He holds a doctorate in Political Communication from North-West University in South Africa and earlier degrees from the Universities of Uyo and Ibadan.
With experience in journalism, civil society, and academia, Ibietan currently serves as a directorate cadre staff at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), overseeing the media relations management unit. Throughout his career, he has dedicated significant research to the intersection of communication studies and psephology, granting him a deep and insightful understanding of related issues.
The book is available for purchase in both hardback and paperback formats at local bookstores in Nigeria starting from 12 June. Additionally, electronic copies can be obtained from online platforms, including Amazon.
