Author: Jane Chinelo Obasi, Goodness Chinecherem Muochukwu & Chinasa Abonyi
Date: 2026/01/10
This study examines how political memes on X (formerly Twitter) shape public opinion and civic engagement within Nigeria's digital political landscape. Using qualitative multimodal discourse analysis and purposive sampling, the study analyses 15 political memes circulated during key political events, drawing on Kress and van Leeuwen's Grammar of Visual Design (2006) to interpret their visual, textual, and symbolic elements. Focusing on the multimodal features of the memes rather than individual users, the findings reveal that memes, often framed through humour and satire, embed ideological cues and emotional appeals that influence public perception and political participation. Visual features such as layout, colour, facial expressions, and symbolism further reinforce or challenge dominant political narratives.
Keywords: Political Memes, Visual Grammar Theory, X (twitter), Public Opinion, Multimodal Discourse Analysis
Download PDF