AI and Political Communication: Empowering Political Participation in Enugu State

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have revolutionized various sectors, and their potential to transform political engagement and communication is increasingly recognized. This paper explores the role of AI in enhancing political communication and empowering political participation in Enugu state, Nigeria. The study also examines the current state of political participation in Enugu state, identifies challenges faced by citizens, and demonstrates how AI applications can address these issues, leading to more inclusive, transparent, and engaging political processes. Theoretical support were Technological Determinism and Agenda-Setting theories. Australian Calculator was useful in determining sample size of 385. Findings suggest that participation in politics has witnessed series of challenges ranging from limited access to information, voter apathy and inefficiencies in governance structures often hinders citizens from fully engaging in the political affairs. Results contrast the notion that online media literacy especially AI tools usage is a barrier, which assume that uneducated people may not be able to manipulate them effectively. From the outcome, the researcher recommends among other things that there should be training and retraining of staff members of Enugu state independence electoral commission (ENSIEC) and other stakeholders to manage Artificial intelligence apparatus effectively.
Keywords: Artificial intelligence, political communication, political participation, Enugu state