Content Analysis of Nigerian Newspapers’ Framing of Governors’ Defection from Opposition Parties to the Ruling Party after the 2023 General Elections

Abstract

The increasing wave of gubernatorial defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria shortly after the 2023 general elections raises serious concerns about democratic accountability, opposition viability, and the role of the media in legitimising elite political realignments. Despite this development, limited empirical attention has been given to how Nigerian newspapers frame these defections in contemporary political discourse. This study therefore examines newspaper framing of gubernatorial defections between May 2024 and March 2026. The study identifies dominant frames, assesses the tone of reportage, and examines journalistic formats used in selected Nigerian newspapers. A quantitative content analysis was conducted on Vanguard, Daily Trust, and Premium Times. From a population of 1,424 relevant news stories, a sample of 306 articles was selected using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling technique and analysed through systematic random sampling, with data interpreted using frequency counts and percentages. Findings reveal a dominance of elite-centred frames, particularly Political Survival and Pragmatism (29.4%) and Conflict and Intra-party Crisis (25.5%), while Mandate Betrayal and Ethical Accountability is minimally represented (2.0%). The tone of coverage is largely neutral (57.2%), followed by positive (27.4%) and negative (15.4%), with straight news formats prevailing (69.3%). The study concludes that Nigerian newspapers tend to normalise political defection through pragmatic and neutral framing. It contributes to framing scholarship by showing how media discourse can reinforce political instability in weak party systems and underscores the need for more critical, accountability-oriented journalism.