Information Management by Political Parties During the 2023 Gubernatorial Elections in Cross River State, Nigeria

Author: Ekwo Gilbert Otu

Affiliation: Department of Communication and Media Studies, Nasarawa State University Keffi, Keffi, Nigeria

Journal: GVU Journal of Management and Social Sciences

Volume: 11(1), 2026

Pages: 1–14

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20842275

Abstract

This paper examines how political parties managed political information during the 2023 gubernatorial elections in Cross River State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to examine the information management strategies adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and to assess the effectiveness of these strategies in achieving electoral goals. Data were collected through survey instruments and analysed using descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that both the APC and PDP deployed multi-channel information strategies, including social media campaigns, traditional media messaging, grassroots mobilisation, and data-driven targeting of specific voter blocs. Although these strategies improved message speed, visibility, and engagement among some demographic groups, their overall persuasive effect on undecided voters and their capacity to drive voter turnout were perceived as moderate rather than strong. The ANOVA results further indicated no statistically significant difference between the APC and PDP in the strategies adopted or in the perceived effectiveness of those strategies for achieving electoral goals. The study concludes that while both parties have modernised their communication architectures, the effectiveness of information management still depends on local networks, credibility, and the ability to bridge the digital divide between urban and rural audiences. The study recommends that political parties should continue to strengthen digital communication teams for rapid message dissemination while sustaining ward-level grassroots structures and town-hall engagements, since face-to-face interaction remains essential for building trust, particularly in rural communities and among older voters 

Keywords

Information; Information Strategy; Management; APC; PDP; Cross River