The Framing of 2019 Presidential Election: An Analysis of Three Nigerian Newspapers

Media and politics are two important components of any democratic society. Elections are vital aspect of democracy through which citizen elect their representatives in government for a period of time as specified in the country’s constitution. On the other end, media plays an importance role in the society and remains one of the major pillars that sustains democracy. Media therefore serves an important function as a source for political information for its citizens. During election, different media outlets frame the events in various ways. Previous studies indicated that framing of election depends on political and economic situation as well as the type of media practiced in the country. Therefore, it is common to see differences in the framing of election in different countries. With little studies conducted on framing of election in developing countries, this study examines the newspaper coverage of the 2019 presidential election in Nigeria. By focusing on the two major candidates, Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressive Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The study uses a quantitative content analysis to examine the dominant frame used to cover the election as well as the various timeline of the election period. Three Nigerian newspapers, Punch, Vanguard and Daily Trust were selected for the study based on their high circulations within the country. The study analyzes n=159 news stories published from February 1st through February 28th from three above mentioned newspapers. The study found that issue frame is the most dominant frame used during the coverage of election in Nigeria. The study also found that majority of the promises during the campaign were framed as viable and achievable during the term of election. Also, the study found that the election was framed as violent and marred by electoral malpractices.