- Nwaezeihenatuoha, Peter Chukwughalum*
- Department of Mass Communication Faculty of Arts and the Humanities University of Nigeria Nsukka
- DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17075557
This
research adopted mixed methods (content analysis, Oral Interviews, and focus
group discussions) to investigate the editorials of government and private
newspapers on the Muslim-Muslim tickets (MMT) of All-Progressives Congress in
the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria. Anchoring on Agenda-setting and
Framing theories, the article focused on the frequency of editorials, direction
of framing language, opinion of the government and public, mechanics of
graphology, prominence, and consequence. The period covered was from the
beginning of purchase of nomination forms (June, 2022) to election-day
(February 25, 2023). Vanguard (private) and Daily Times (government) were
selected through multi-stage sampling. Vanguard represented the opinion of
private newspapers while Daily Times represented government’s opinion. The
population of study was 546: Vanguard (273), Daily Times (273). The actual
sample size for each newspaper was further determined through purposive
sampling. Riffle’s Composite Weeks/Months sampling was also considered, and the
editions sorted using random and quota methods. 4 editions of each newspaper
were retrieved each week to give 16 copies per month and 144 over the period.
Data were presented on tables using simple percentages. Findings showed that
Vanguard overtly criticised MMT and set more agenda (74 editorials) while Daily
Times supported MMT and published fewer editorials (68). The number of the
citizens against MMT was greater than the number that supported it. The major
consequences of MMT were religious, ethnic, and political. The paper
recommended that newspapers should set an unbiased editorial agenda on
political issues, and discourage government divisive practices like MMT.
