2011: Politicians Take War to Facebook, Others

POLITICAL office seekers have turned to social media and social networking sites to woo Nigeria’s literate but apathetic voters ahead of the 2011 general elections but this rapidly growing segment of the population appear put off by lack of originality in the online campaigns, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can now reveal.
Not deterred, politicians are targeting the over 44 million Nigerians online, a number if properly galvanized can win any election in the country.
Already, both national and local office seekers in the general elections have inundated the internet with websites, blogs and social networks with political propaganda as they also send unsolicited SMS messages.
Though online campaign is not about to replace the traditional radio and television jingles, billboards, handbills, public rallies and advertisements in newspapers and magazines, it will sure play a very crucial role in who becomes Nigeria’s next president.
Latching on this, major aspirants and pretenders to the Presidency, Nigeria’s highest elective position have launched one form of campaign or the other online.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the incumbent appears the most active on the social media scene with his facebook account: http://www.facebook.com/jonathangoodluck.
Jonathan had early this year, opened a facebook account, where he exchanges ideas on sundry issues with Nigerians who visit the account.
That account has 220,150 followers as at Friday September 17 with an average of 1,700 comments on every topic posted by the president.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the president also employs short message service (SMS) one of which read “J. Goodluck” “We are on the road to rebuild our Nation. Stand with me, stand for transformation.”
Elsewhere, Atiku Abubakar, former vice-president has launched www.atiku.org, an interactive website that projects him as the best candidate for the presidential elections.
The website enjoys good traffic and according to www.alexa.com which ranks websites, www.atiku.org is ranked 1.5 million in the world.
The former vice president is also active on facebook, twitter and youtube just as he has also unveiled a short code 32322 with which he can be reached.
Also General Ibrahim Babangida, former military president has flagged off a robust online campaign with his www.babangida2011.org.
The former military president is also available on facebook, twitter, youtube, vimoe, linked and flick.
Jonathan, Atiku, and Babangida will be vying for the sole ticket to fly the flag of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election.
And yet, the Dele Momodu 2011 project is enjoying a handsome following on facebook with nearly 5,000 friends and more than 10,000 others who have signed to support the magazine publisher’s presidential ambition.
Momodu has signified his intention to run for the exalted post if he gets the clearance of the Labour Party (LP).
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek could not gather what the campaign teams of Mohamadu Buhari, former head of state and Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) are employing to woo voters.
Buhari is running for president for the third time, this time on the platform of newly-formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) while Ribadu is speculated to run under Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
For some of the online campaigns, originality is lacking. They are merely repetitive borrowing largely from the effort that made President Barack Obama, the first black man to rule United States of America.
None of the candidates have focused on creating local languages campaign Web sites.
And a note of warning too, any candidate who is prepared to campaign online must also prepare for it negative sides especially by offering ‘underdog’ candidates, the chance to gain maximum exposure at minimum cost.