It’s no secret that Nigerians are fed up with corruption, lack of transparency, and accountability in government. Therefore, it’s not surprising that a poll released recently showed that a majority of Nigerians — 64 percent — think the country is headed in the wrong direction.
According to a new poll, labour party candidate Peter Obi is a top choice to become the next president of Africa’s most populous country, according to a new opinion poll. His popularity is fueled by the feeling of distrust for the two major political candidates and the woeful performance of their parties.
72% of respondents said Obi was their first choice out of the 92% who said they’d already determined how they would vote. 45% of the remaining undecided voters said they preferred the 61-year-old.
The data firm headquartered in San Francisco surveyed 3,973 Nigerians from Sept. 5-20. Respondents to the app-based poll were selected from quotas developed by age, gender, and location across the country’s six geographic zones. According to the Alliance for Affordable Internet, about 44% of Nigerians own smartphones. The percentages were then weighted against the original quotas to ensure national representation.
Since the restoration of democracy in 1999, the two parties that have ruled Nigeria have fared poorly. Among decided voters, All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Tinubu received 16% of the vote, while 23% favoured Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party. Among those yet to make up their minds, 9% favoured Atiku Abubakar, while 17% backed the Peoples Democratic Party.
In the last election, the Labour Party won a single seat in the Senate and House of Representatives, and Obi is running on the labour party’s ticket. The APC and PDP dominate both chambers of parliament.
“Obidient” Followers
An “Obidients” base, which is enthusiastic and ever-growing, has developed over the last few months among Obi supporters, becoming increasingly present on the streets as well as online.
Despite Labour’s small presence across Nigeria, the country’s two dominant parties are skilled at mobilizing voters. Those who support Obi must rapidly expand their organizational infrastructure if they wish to take advantage of the campaign’s momentum.
Prior to withdrawing from the PDP’s party election in May, in which Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, and perpetual presidential candidate, was victorious, Obi sought the labour party’s endorsement. While Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the APC’s primary elections, the most prominent politician in southwestern Nigeria, who previously governed Lagos’s commercial center, won by a huge margin.
The economy’s long-standing mainstay—crude oil production—has fallen to multi-decade lows, contributing to soaring inflation, a plunging currency, and pervasive insecurity.
Meanwhile, the Buhari administration’s debt service bill for the first quarter of the year surpassed the revenue it was able to earn, demonstrating the administration’s economic incompetence.
More than three-quarters of Nigerians believe that their country is heading in the “wrong direction.” A whopping 88% listed the economy and jobs, corruption, and security—the three pillars of Buhari’s 2015 campaign—as the most crucial problems facing their communities.
65% said Obi was the best candidate to improve the economy, fight corruption, and reduce insecurity. TINUBU was the second choice on each count, with ABUBAKAR coming in third.
Three other surveys published since September 15 show that Obi has come out on top. Despite the general cynicism about Nigeria’s future, most respondents believe that the election will be conducted fairly and that their vote will count even if nearly half expect the election to be disrupted by violence.
Recommended Read: Why Peter Obi Will Become Nigerian President
Why Are Nigerians So Desperate For Change?
The presidential elections in Nigeria always see a high voter turnout, but this time, the number is expected to be even higher. An estimated 80 percent of Nigerians plan to vote in the upcoming election, which is scheduled for February 2023.
There are a number of reasons why so many people are eager to cast their vote this time around. First, the next president will be responsible for leading the country during a time when there has been a significant decline in crude oil prices.
It’s estimated that oil revenues account for about 70 percent of Nigeria’s government revenue, so falling oil prices have put the government in a bind. Because of this, Nigeria has struggled to continue financing programs and initiatives that were implemented over the last decade.
A clear majority of respondents said they intend to vote for Peter Obi, a former Anambra state governor, in elections scheduled for February. The results of the survey conducted for Bloomberg News by Premise Data Corp. were published on Wednesday as the official campaign to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari kicked off.
Corruption Is Rampant In Nigeria
It is estimated that more than $100 billion dollars have been stolen from Nigeria in the last 50 years. Corruption is a huge problem in Nigeria, and it’s something that plagues every sector of government.
Unfortunately, the problem extends to the country’s highest level. For example, current president Muhammadu Buhari has been criticized for failing to address the issue of corruption and bringing those responsible to justice.
In fact, Buhari was even accused of taking a $15 million bribe when he was a military leader in the 80s. Buhari has denied any wrongdoing and the case was dismissed. Unfortunately, the allegations have plagued Buhari throughout his presidency, so many voters are eager to cast their vote for someone who can bring transparency and accountability to the government.
Lack Of Infrastructure Is Strangling The Economy
Another reason so many people are eager to vote in this election is that the economy is not in a good shape. Nigeria’s economy has continued to decline, and many experts believe that a lack of infrastructure and a poor business environment is responsible for the drop in economic growth and investment.
One of the biggest problems is that it takes an average of 10 days for goods to move from one state to another, which is bad for business. Other problems include an unreliable power grid, poor internet connectivity, and a high level of corruption.
These issues are only increasing the country’s reliance on oil, which is not good for the economy in the long run.
Conclusion
Nigerians are hopeful that this election will bring about change. In fact, they’re so eager to cast their vote that the National Electoral Commission extended the voter registration deadline.
If no candidate receives the required number of votes, then there will be a run-off election. The race to become the next president of Nigeria is heating up, and with less than five months until the election, it’s time to get familiar with the candidates and their platforms.
It’s important to remember that even though Peter Obi is leading the race, nothing is set in stone until the ballots are cast. In the end, it’s up to Nigerians to elect the leader they feel can best lead the country.
