Civic engagement and the online–offline participation gap in Nigeria's 2023 general election

Abstract

The rapid growth of digital technologies and social media has transformed political communication and civic engagement across Nigeria, creating new opportunities for political awareness, mobilisation, and participation. However, despite unprecedented levels of online political activity during Nigeria's 2023 general elections, electoral turnout declined to its lowest level since the country's return to democratic rule in 1999. This study examines the relationship between online political engagement and offline civic participation by investigating the apparent disconnect between digital political expression and electoral behaviour. The study employs a secondary research design, drawing on electoral statistics, internet penetration data, election observation reports, and scholarly literature on digital activism and political participation. It then uses social movement theory to compare the 2023 general elections with the 2020 #EndSARS protests, both of which featured prominent digital expression. Still, only One translated into large-scale offline political participation. The findings reveal that while digital platforms lower the costs of political expression, raise political consciousness, and facilitate rapid mobilisation, they do not necessarily overcome the barriers associated with electoral participation. The study concludes that there is a need for meaningful translation of digital engagement into offline political participation, which requires not only technological mobilisation but also stronger civic Education, credible institutions, organisational capacity, and supportive political opportunity structures. The paper contributes to ongoing studies on digital democracy by demonstrating that online political engagement, although valuable for awareness and mobilisation, is insufficient on its own to guarantee sustained civic or electoral participation.