PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the information needs and sources of electorates in Nigeria and identify challenges electorates faced when obtaining electoral information and news.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts the description survey design and hypothesized the information needs and sources on demographic variables such as age, sex and academic qualification. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used. A quantitative approach used based on a questionnaire completed by 236 respondents and a snow ball nonprobability sampling technique was used in this study. The research adapted Wilson 1999 theory of information seeking behavior.FindingsThe findings identified five information needs that are of interest to the electorates: registration of voter, level of security, right as a voter, manifestoes and candidate profile. It was discovered that WhatsApp, Facebook and friends were sources electorates used most in obtaining election-related news and information. The research went further to streamline the number of times such election-related news and information items were sought in a day and week; it was discovered that the manual system still dominated with the print newspaper rather than Twitter, WhatsApp, friends and colleagues and Facebook. The young person used social media most as source of information compared to aged respondents in Nigeria. Thekre is increasing in women participating in political and electoral information. Formal education does not have significant impact on the usage of election information and news. Language barrier, erratic power supply, expensive network service and no knowledge of where to source for information proved to be challenges electorates faced when seeking election-related news and information.Research limitations/implicationsThis research will help to keep abreast of the information electorate needs and how they get such information. This research is limited to small group of electorates.Practical implicationsThis paper includes more information about the electorates and political parties information needs.Social implicationsThe finding was drawn from limited respondents that were ready to participate in the research by responding to various questions in the questionnaire. Therefore, there is need for further study to consider a wider population scope on information-related research of electorate in Nigeria.Originality/valueThis research was carried out by Ayinde Lateef; Keriafe D.E. and Fatima Ghayen.

中文翻译：

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尼日利亚选民的信息需求和来源

目的本研究的目的是检查尼日利亚选民的信息需求和来源，并确定选民在获取选举信息和新闻时面临的挑战。设计/方法/方法本研究采用描述调查设计，并假设人口变量的信息需求和来源例如年龄、性别和学历。使用了描述性和推论性统计。本研究使用了一种基于由 236 名受访者完成的问卷调查和雪球非概率抽样技术的定量方法。该研究采用了威尔逊 1999 年的信息寻求行为理论。研究结果确定了选民感兴趣的五种信息需求：选民登记、安全级别、选民权利、宣言和候选人简介。据发现，WhatsApp、Facebook 和朋友是选民最常用于获取与选举相关的新闻和信息的来源。该研究进一步简化了在一天和一周内搜索此类与选举相关的新闻和信息项目的次数；结果发现，人工系统仍然以印刷报纸为主，而不是 Twitter、WhatsApp、朋友和同事以及 Facebook。与尼日利亚的老年受访者相比，年轻人最常使用社交媒体作为信息来源。参与政治和选举信息的妇女越来越多。正规教育对选举信息和新闻的使用没有显着影响。语言障碍，电源不稳定，昂贵的网络服务和不知道从哪里获取信息被证明是选民在寻找与选举相关的新闻和信息时面临的挑战。研究限制/影响这项研究将有助于及时了解选民的信息需求以及他们如何获取此类信息。这项研究仅限于一小群选民。实际意义本文包括有关选民和政党信息需求的更多信息。社会意义该发现来自准备好通过回答问卷中的各种问题参与研究的有限受访者。因此，需要进一步研究以考虑在尼日利亚选民信息相关研究的更广泛的人口范围。原创性/价值本研究由Ayinde Lateef进行；Keriafe DE 和 Fatima Ghayen。