Let’s be honest: election season for Nigeria na like harmattan — you go first smell am before you see am.
First, you go see “movement”. Then you go hear rumours. Before you know, your uncle don become “political analyst” for WhatsApp group.
Signal 1: Performance record (not motivational quotes)
Anybody fit promise you heaven. The question be: what did they do with the power they already held?
Check their track record: budgets, projects, reforms, response to crises, and whether the thing reach ordinary people.
Signal 2: Consistency (this one dey show character)
Watch how they change story. Today: “I’m for transparency.” Tomorrow: “Who needs procurement?” Consistency no be stubbornness — na accountability.
Signal 3: The people around them
Sometimes the candidate be calm, but the people around am dey do like they’re auditioning for action movie. Team behaviour tells you what governance will look like.
Signal 4: Party behaviour when camera no dey
How the party handles internal disputes, primaries, and discipline matters. If they can’t manage their own house, how dem wan manage your state?
Signal 5: Service delivery where it hurts most
Security, roads, schools, health centres, power, water. If you dey suffer daily, that’s the signal.
Use evote.ng polls like reality check
Polls no be prophecy, but e dey help you see what people dey feel — and why. Compare sentiment and read the reasons, not just the numbers.
Because when campaign starts with full loudspeaker, you go need your own quiet data to stay grounded.