COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES AND GOVERNANCE IN DRIVING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF PETER OBI'S SPEECHES

ABSTRACT  This study ascertained the public relations and image building as pathways for Independent National Electoral Commission inclusiveness and image recovery in Nigeria. The theoretical framework of the study was drawn from the image restoration theory and agenda setting theory. This study adopted the qualitative research approach and the in-depth (intensive) interview method was employed. The research population consisted of 17 (seventeen) public relations officers and professional experts in the unit of public relations in INEC in Rivers State and public relations experts in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising in University of Port Harcourt. Purposive and snowballing sampling techniques were used to arrive at the study sample. The study adopted thematic method of data analysis to analyse the data gathered from the in-depth interviews