Impact Of Digital Misinformation On Electoral Perception: A Survey Of Lagos Electorates’ Experiences With Twitter During The 2023 Gubernatorial Race

This study examined the Impact of Digital Misinformation on Electoral Perception: A Survey of Lagos Electorates'Experiences with Twitter during the 2023 Gubernatorial Race.The study was guided by four key research questions: how digital misinformation on Twitter influenced electorates' perception during the election; the types of misinformation that circulated and affected perception; the extent to which exposure to misinformation affected trust in the electoral process; and how electorates identified and interpreted misinformation on Twitter.A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study.Based on an estimated population of 5,747,193 registered electorates in Lagos State, a sample of 384 respondents was selected using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination table.Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts and percentages.Findings revealed that digital misinformation on Twitter significantly influenced electorates' perceptions, causing confusion, distrust in the electoral process, and biased support for certain candidates.Various forms of misinformation, such as fake news, manipulated media, false election result claims, and hate speech, were found to be widespread during the 2023 Lagos State gubernatorial election.Although many respondents relied on official INEC statements, multiple news sources, and peer discussions to verify information, a considerable number still struggled to identify false content due to low digital literacy and limited use of fact-checking tools.The study concluded that the impact of digital misinformation on electoral perception among Lagos electorates was largely negative, undermining public trust and informed participation in the democratic process.It was recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant stakeholders adopt a comprehensive digital communication strategy to counter misinformation in real time during elections.Additionally, collaboration with reputable media organizations, civil society groups, and social media platforms should be enhanced to promote the timely clarification of misleading content.The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should integrate digital literacy and media education into voter enlightenment programmes, while government institutions, educational bodies, and NGOs should jointly train citizens especially youths on critical information assessment and the use of fact-checking tools such as Africa Check, and FactCheckHub to strengthen electoral integrity and democratic engagement in Nigeria.