A noteworthy limitation among existing studies on the use of online technologies by political parties is the focus on elections. This study extends the frontiers by examining the extent to which Nigeria's political parties use their websites, as well as Facebook and Twitter platforms to communicate and mobilise citizens during and beyond elections. Using web assessment survey, data collected from the online platforms of registered political parties in February 2015 and February 2017 were analysed—to see trends in online activities during (2015 elections) and outside of elections (2017). The study reveals that the parties are caught in the web of the contradictory possibilities of digital engagement. On the one hand, is an online quiescence in the period between elections, which is premised on poor party institutionalisation. On the other hand, the parties are largely unable to reverse elements of institutionalisation challenges by leveraging digital tools to develop roots in the society and boost their public image. This quandary helps to demonstrate where the Nigerian party system fits in the equalisation versus normalisation debate on the utility of digital tools.

中文翻译：

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两次选举之间的政治休眠？探索尼日利亚政党的在线交流和动员能力

现有关于政党使用在线技术的研究的一个值得注意的局限性是对选举的关注。这项研究通过研究尼日利亚政党在选举期间和选举后使用其网站以及 Facebook 和 Twitter 平台进行交流和动员公民的程度来扩展前沿。使用网络评估调查，分析了 2015 年 2 月和 2017 年 2 月从注册政党的在线平台收集的数据——以了解（2015 年选举）和选举之外（2017 年）在线活动的趋势。该研究表明，各方陷入了数字参与的相互矛盾的可能性之中。一方面，是选举之间的网络停顿，这是以政党制度化不佳为前提的。另一方面，各方在很大程度上无法通过利用数字工具扎根社会并提升公众形象来扭转制度化挑战的要素。这种困境有助于证明尼日利亚政党制度在平等化中的位置与关于数字工具效用的标准化辩论。