On that hated poll in the current electoral calendar in Nigeria, the headlines by leading newspapers panicked and troubled many stakeholders. Magically, Vanguard, a highly respected national brand, put it in the minds of citizens that yes indeed Peter Obi “leads”. Since in politics, when you are arguing or complaining, you are losing, it was then left for APC and PDP to fight on that declaration.
The Labour Party stayed over the fray while others were arguing over statistics. The headlines were more politically lethal than the polls as they changed the perceptions of the citizens.
I have gone through the headlines and can conclude: if Peter Obi ends up winning the presidency, the newspapers in Nigeria are the catalysts. They cemented what many felt was an effervescence into a stable solid state political movement [Mr Udeagu Jr who taught me Chemistry in secondary school, thank you].
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Ndubuisi: “Mother, why do they say my eyes are big”
Mother: “They are jealous since you need big eyes to see mathematics better”
After she gave me that answer, and I used it to respond to two bullies in school, they never made that joke again, as they wished they had bigger eyes since I was “seeing” mathematics better.
The newspaper headlines gave Obi a really great answer: “2023: Peter Obi leads…” Yes, he “leads” even if that is just a “a presidential poll”. Please plan to vote as electoral polls, unlike others, have results because elections happen!
The Most Hated Poll Right Now in Nigeria and the Road to Aso Rock in 2023
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Comment 1: Perception is everything……the trailing PDP & APC did not see the Obi’s LP third force coming from their earlier permutations, they are currently playing catch up and need to go back to the drawing board and restrategize if it’s still possible
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Here is the ultimate punchline: “Since in politics, when you are arguing or complaining, you are losing, it was then left for APC and PDP to fight on that declaration.” It is what it is. You cannot be winning 5 – 0 in a football match and still keep arguing about a bad call from the referee, or diving to win a penalty; such tantrums are left for the losing team to sort out.
Politics is both psychological and physical, so you cannot comfortably discount a poll your candidate or party is not leading, you cannot sleep well at night if you are bottom of a poll.
Every advert or amplification for your candidate matters, else everyone will go home until election day, but politics doesn’t work that way. Who has called for rally and then get to the venue, only to find empty seats, are you going to argue that your supporters are everywhere but don’t feel like attending? Such narrative cannot fly, so being at the top always comes with a positive feeling.
Which decent political party will revel or rely on illiterates and wretched people to win election? That would amount to taking advantage of the weak and vulnerable. If you are truly popular, your support base must be diverse, both online and offline, educated and non educated citizens.