This study examined the role of public relations in the image management of candidates during general elections in Nigeria. The study was motivated by the increasing use of public relations strategies, social media campaigns, political branding, and image-building techniques by political candidates seeking electoral support. Specifically, the study investigated the extent to which candidates' projected images align with their actual interactions with voters, the effectiveness of public relations strategies in influencing public perception, and the factors responsible for the image-reality gap often observed after elections. The study adopted a quantitative survey research design. A structured questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale was used to collect data from a population of 300 respondents comprising voters, political party members, campaign officials, and members of the public. Data were analyzed using frequency tables, percentages, and mean scores. The findings revealed that public relations play a significant role in shaping the public image of political candidates during elections. The study found that many candidates project favorable personalities on social media that do not always correspond with their physical interactions at the grassroots level. The findings further showed that political public relations strategies are increasingly focused on digital campaigns and image projection, while communication and engagement often decline after electoral victory. Respondents also perceived unfulfilled campaign promises, black public relations, and excessive political branding as major contributors to public distrust and the image-reality gap in Nigerian politics. The study concluded that although public relations is essential for effective political communication and voter engagement, its credibility depends on consistency between campaign promises, projected images, and actual performance in office.