New Media Application and Participation of Students at the 2017 Student Union Government Electronic Based Elections Exercise At the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was designed to find out students’ compliance to the new e.voting technology, challenges associated with it and to examine the reasons behind the low level of student’s turnout at the exercise. The study was hinged on mediamorphosistheory and diffusion of innovation theory. Survey was used as the method, Findings showed that students were technologically compliant, but failed to turn out in mass due to time factor, lack of interest in student politics and poor publicity. Further findings showed that technical challenges formed some of the problems associated with the new media application. The research concluded that the e.voting system recently adopted by the FUT Minna, seems better than the ballot system previously used. It recommended that in future, aspirants should adopt adequate publicity by exploring suitable communication channels. All technical challenges should be properly taken care of by the organizers and that the elections exercise should be shifted far from the exam period to enhance better participation.