THE ROLE OF MEDIA AS A PANACEA FOR PUBLIC OPINION FORMATION: ANALYSING SUNRISE DAILY OF THE PRESENTATION OF PRESIDENT TINUBU’S GOVERNANCE (MAY 29TH 2023-AUGUST 31ST, 2024

The study aims to examine the role of Sunrise Daily, a flagship political program on Channels Television, in shaping public opinion on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s governance from 2023 to 2024. Specifically, it investigates the nature of discussions on Sunrise Daily, the frequency and tone of coverage, the program’s influence on public perception, potential biases in reporting, and the extent to which the platform serves as a tool for political accountability and public engagement. The study adopts a quantitative content analysis research design, systematically analyzing the content of Sunrise Daily broadcasts over a specified period. Data collection involves reviewing past editions of the program, coding discussions based on governance themes such as economic reforms, governance costs, food security, ECOWAS affairs, and political appointments. The study employs thematic, sentiment, and comparative analyses to assess how different governance issues were framed, the tone of discussions, and variations in reporting styles.Findings reveal that economic reforms received the highest coverage (47.95%), followed by governance costs (34.25%) and food security (19.18%). Discussions on governance costs were predominantly negative (45%), while ECOWAS affairs had the most positive framing (40%). The study also highlights the influence of Sunrise Daily in shaping public discourse, with discussions on government spending and economic policies reinforcing public skepticism and dissatisfaction. Additionally, biases were identified in the framing of certain issues, as the program tended to amplify negative perceptions of economic policies while providing relatively positive coverage of Nigeria’s ECOWAS leadership. The study concludes that Sunrise Daily plays a crucial role in influencing public discourse on governance, often shaping national debates through its framing of policy issues. While the program contributes to political accountability, its focus on negative narratives may intensify public dissatisfaction and political polarization. It is recommended that media organizations strive for balanced reporting, ensuring that governance discussions incorporate multiple perspectives. Policymakers should engage proactively with the media to clarify policy directions and counter misinformation. Additionally, media literacy programs should be promoted to help audiences critically assess media narratives and distinguish between factual reporting and editorial biases