The outcome of a poll organized by Bloomberg Africa has revealed that Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has once again emerged the favourite to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in office.
The outcome of the poll was published today, Wednesday September 28, 2022; as official campaigns for the 2023 election kicked off.
1st News reports that the survey was conducted for Bloomberg News by Premise Data Corp. The results of the new poll showed that a clear majority of respondents said they intend to vote for Peter Obi in 2023.
‘’Of the 92% of participants who said they’ve decided how to vote, 72% named Obi as their first choice. Of those who are still unsure, 45% said the 61-year-old is their preferred candidate,’’ the medium stated.
In arriving at its conclusion, Premise Data Corp, headquartered in San Francisco, surveyed 3,973 Nigerians from September 5-20. Further, the report stated that respondents to the app-based poll were selected from quotas developed by age; gender and location across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Results were then weighted against the original quotas to ensure national representation.
Peter Obi did not only secure the majority of the poll results. He gained a landslide victory over the two other frontline contenders, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar.
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‘’The candidates of the two parties that have ruled Nigeria since the restoration of democracy in 1999 fared less well. Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress garnered 16% of decided voters and 23% of those yet to make up their minds. Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party tallied 9% and 17% respectively.
‘’A former two-term governor of the southeastern Anambra state, Obi is running on the ticket of the Labour Party, which won a single seat in the Senate and House of Representatives in the last election in 2019. The APC and PDP dominate both chambers of parliament.
‘’In a relatively short time, Obi has built up an enthusiastic base known as “Obidients” — initially online, but increasingly in the streets — who aim to cause an upset on Feb. 25. Still, the Labour Party has a much smaller nationwide presence than the two rival parties, which are experienced at turning out voters across the vast West African country. Obi’s supporters will need to rapidly scale up their organizational infrastructure if they’re to capitalize on the campaign’s momentum.
‘’Obi originally sought the PDP’s nomination before withdrawing from a party election that Abubakar, a former vice president and perennial presidential candidate, won in May. Tinubu, who used to govern the commercial hub of Lagos and is the most influential politician in southwestern Nigeria, triumphed by a landslide in the APC’s primaries the following month.’’
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Meanwhile, 1st News reports that Nigeria is set to witness a heated battle among the political parties; particularly as campaigns commence for next year’s elections.
Peter Obi, despite his soaring popularity, faces a keen challenge in wresting power from the APC and PDP; both of which have ruled Nigeria since the return of democratic rule in Nigeria. Nigeria also faces monumental socio-economic obstacles which have worsened in recent years.
Nevertheless, the Bloomberg Africa poll reveals that the former Anambra governor has momentum on his side; even as he enjoys the confidence of the majority of surveyed respondents in turning things around.
‘’The five-month race to the general elections gets underway as Nigerians contend with soaring inflation; a plunging currency and pervasive insecurity. Production of the economy’s historical mainstay — crude oil — has also slumped to multi-decade lows; while the Buhari administration’s debt service bill in the first quarter of the year exceeded the revenue it was able to earn.
”Three-quarters of respondents said that their country is heading in the “wrong direction.” A combined 88% listed the economy and jobs, corruption, and security — three pillars of the campaign that brought Buhari to power in 2015 — as the most important issues facing their communities.
‘’More than 65% named Obi as the candidate best able to improve the economy; tackle corruption and reduce insecurity. Tinubu ranked second on each measure, ahead of Abubakar.
‘’Obi also came out in front in two other opinion polls published since Sept. 15.
”Despite the general disenchantment about Nigeria’s trajectory; most respondents said that they trust the election to be run fairly and think their vote will make a difference; even if almost half expect the polls to be marred by violence,” the report concluded.
The people will still speak clearly in Feb. 2023 in favour of a new Nigeria spearheaded by Obi and Datti.