Social Media Discourse and Yenagoa Youths Perceptions of INEC’s Credibility for 2027 General Elections in Nigeria

Globally, the credibility of electoral processes is largely predicated on the level of independence of the electoral umpire. Again, the level to which the electorate perceive the electoral umpire as being credible determines the extent of their trust and participation in the electoral process. In this direction, this study analysed the influence of social media discourse on Yenagoa youths perception of the credibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. Guided by Marshall McLuhan’s Technological Determinism Theory, the study analysed the levels and patterns of social media usage among youths in Yenagoa, the types of election-related content they encounter, and the extent to which exposure to these contents influences their perception of INEC’s credibility. Using survey, the study sampled 398 respondents drawn from a population of 524,400. The findings revealed that nearly seven in ten youths (69.8%) use social media daily, highlighting its centrality in political communication. Campaign messages (77.1%) and election results or projections (67.3%) were the most common forms of electoral content encountered on social media, while misinformation posed a significant threat to perception of electoral credibility. Again, exposure to verified content corresponded with higher credibility perceptions, while exposure to misinformation significantly reduced trust in INEC. The overall credibility mean score (3.20) indicates a moderate level of trust amongst Yenagoa youths. The study recommended enhanced digital literacy campaigns, stronger INEC-led fact-checking mechanisms, and collaborative efforts with social media platforms to mitigate misinformation and strengthen electoral trust.