TELL Magazine

As the nation prepares for the 2015 general elections, many Nigerians especially the youths, have been using the social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs to drum-up support for their preferred presidential candidate.

Few weeks to the election, supporters of former Head of State, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress, APC and President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been using the online platforms to critically analyse and debate the candidature of Buhari and Jonathan.

For instance, a Facebook user, Chijioke C-Jay Olisah, who wrote on an online post with the slogan ‘#WeWantPresidentialDebate’ while advising Nigerians to caste their votes wisely said, “The 3R’s in environmental chemistry means Reuse, Recycle and Reduce… and the last time I checked, it was used for waste management not government management…. this is what the PDP led government has been practising over the past few years”.

Another Facebook user who goes by the name Nwaneki Nonso Benedict, said if elected into office, Buhari would “take Nigeria 10 years back.”

Also vocal on the social media scene in preparation for the 2015 elections are prominent government officials and politicians such as, Reuben Abati, President Jonathan’s spokesperson and Dino Melaye, a former legislator turned activist.