By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
DDNewsOnline – Lagos, August 10, 2026
With the general election barely six months away, the quality of the national debate and the rhetoric from political actors jostling for power have been described as very disappointing.
Observers note that instead of issue-based campaigns, the discourse remains dominated by the same old, worn-out clichés around marginalization, the qualifications of candidates, endless defections, ethnicity, religious affiliation, and how these factors define the outlook of the general election.
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This is largely because the key players in the 2027 contest are the same people from the 2023 election, making the current cycle appear as a repeat of the last one. As a result, few new ideas are being presented for the electorate to make informed political choices.
At the federal level, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is focused on projecting the positive impacts of its controversial reforms and how the harsh economic measures have, according to the party, rescued Nigeria from complete collapse. However, there is little information from the APC leadership about realistic timelines to mitigate the negative fallout of the reforms, which continue to inflict hardship on most Nigerians. The party is also seen maximising the advantage of attracting disgruntled politicians defecting from crisis-ridden opposition parties to strengthen its position ahead of the elections.
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On the other hand, the opposition parties are largely reacting rather than leading. They are mostly seen complaining in the media over the alleged unfair advantage of federal power that the APC is deploying to stifle their capacity to compete in what is increasingly looking like a one-sided election. While these concerns may not be entirely unfounded, they do little to advance a credible alternative agenda.
Analysts argue that the opposition should first work towards internal cohesion, build solid nationwide structures, strengthen its competitive edge, and present realistic alternative governance choices in the form of sound manifestoes and short-term solutions that could bring immediate relief to the masses. Unfortunately, the opposition parties remain trapped in endless litigation, personality clashes, ego battles, leadership tussles, and other existential challenges that have weakened their capacity to withstand the power of the APC. Their reliance on noisy bloggers and social media platforms to promote their agenda is widely viewed as a poor strategy that is bound to fail, just as it did in 2023.
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Against this backdrop, it is clear that the political class, as it stands, has not offered Nigerians good, fair, or balanced alternatives in the current election cycle that can engender a credible and positive outcome in 2027.
Ultimately, democracy is not just about swapping leaders; it is about improving lives. Elections should be contests of ideas, competence, character, and vision, not theatres of empty rhetoric, ethnic sentiments, and political survival. Nigerians deserve leaders who can inspire confidence with practical solutions to the nation’s daunting challenges.
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As 2027 draws nearer, both the political class and the electorate must rise above the distractions. Politicians must present clear roadmaps for governance, while citizens must resist the temptation of voting along primordial lines or being swayed by propaganda. The future of the country depends not only on the quality of those seeking power but also on the wisdom of those who will eventually entrust that power. The hard choices before us demand sober reflection, not empty rhetoric. History will judge us all by the decisions we make at the ballot box.
- Ladi Ayodeji, marriage counselor, author, media expert and philosopher, can be reached on 09059243004, WhatsApp only.