MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF POLITICAL DEFECTIONS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PRO-GOVERNMENT AND INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

This study examines the differences in representation of political defections between pro-government newspapers and independent newspapers in Nigeria, with specific attention to how such representations affect public perception of defectors. The study employed a descriptive survey design. A total of 250 respondents, consisting of newspaper readers and politically aware citizens across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, were purposively sampled. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data, while frequency counts, percentages, Chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation analysis were employed for data analysis. The study was guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. Findings revealed that pro-government newspapers tended to frame defections in a positive light, often portraying defectors as patriotic actors strengthening governance and national unity. Independent newspapers, however, provided more critical coverage, emphasizing the opportunistic and destabilizing aspects of defections. Hypothesis testing showed a significant difference between the two categories of newspapers in their representation of defections (χ² = 18.45, df = 4, p < 0.05). Furthermore, results indicated a strong positive correlation (r = 0.621, p < 0.05) between media representation and public perception, suggesting that the framing of defections directly shapes how the public evaluates defectors. The study concludes that the Nigerian press is not merely a neutral observer but a political actor that legitimizes or challenges defections through its framing choices. While pro-government newspapers normalize political opportunism, independent newspapers serve as watchdogs holding defectors accountable. The study recommends that newspapers uphold journalistic balance, political parties strengthen internal democracy to reduce defections, regulators enforce ethical guidelines on political reporting, and citizens develop stronger media literacy skills. This study contributes to ongoing discourse on media, democracy, and political accountability in Nigeria by highlighting how the press mediates the meaning of defections in a fragile democratic system.