- The 2023 Nigerian Presidential election was one of the most hotly contested in recent history, with many candidates vying for the coveted position of the country's president.
The 2023 Nigerian Presidential election was one of the most hotly contested in recent history, with many candidates vying for the coveted position of the country’s president. The main contenders were Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Gregory Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). However, Since it is the turn of the south to produce the next president, the focus will be on the two main candidates from southern Nigeria.
Power rotation between the north and south every eight(8) years is sacrosanct for the sake of unity and inclusivity in our country, and that sacred unwritten political agreement must not be compromised. We must constantly pass this understanding to the next generation through practice today to avoid conflicts in our absence tomorrow. We must also commend the state governors from the north who stood firm to protect the unity of Nigeria by insisting the power must go to the south.
On the other hand, I won’t fail to acknowledge the presence of the two main northern candidates and commend their well mannered supporters for a positive campaign, even though they were seen as outsiders in this race because a power shift to the south was ad rem.
The two candidates from the south and their supporters worked tirelessly to win the election, but in the end Tinubu emerged victorious. While Obi’s supporters the “obidients” may argue that his loss was due to voter suppression or fraud, the reality is that his campaign was plagued by abuse, intimidation and online rascality from his supporters, which drowned out his message and made it difficult for him to build a broad coalition of support and this harmed his chances at the polls.
In contrast, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his supporters ran a highly strategic campaign that focused on building a broad coalition of support across the different regions and interest groups in the country by engaging with voters at the grassroots level and effectively using social media and other tools to reach a wider audience. This strategic approach gave them the momentum needed to win the election.
The difference between the two campaigns was clear: Tinubu and his supporters knew that the key to winning the election was to gain support in the North and the South. Tinubu spent a lot of time and resources visiting different regions of the country and engaging with people at the grassroots level. Furthermore, His team was able to work with other political parties and politicians to build a coalition that would give them an edge in the election.
In contrast, Peter Obi and his supporters focused primarily on their traditional base of support and failed to build a broad coalition. They spent a lot of time attacking Tinubu, his supporters, spreading false information and engaging in online trolling. This strategy did not endear them to the electorate, and many voters were put off by the negative and confrontational approach of the obidients. They failed to build bridges across other regions and interest groups in the country. As a result, they were unable to gain the grounds needed to win the election.
Despite the clear difference in approach between the two campaigns, the Labour Party and Obi’s supporters are now claiming that their votes did not count. This is a false and baseless claim. It is important to note that every vote cast in the 2023 Presidential election counted, including those of Obi’s supporters. The truth is that those votes were simply not enough to secure victory in the election. Their constant attacks to discredit opponents, sway voters and create chaos turned off potential voters who were put off by the negative behavior and this made them lose a lots of votes. The reality is that successful political campaigns require a strategic approach, effective messaging, broad coalition of support and bridge building. This means engaging with voters at the grassroots level, building relationships with stakeholders across different regions and interest groups, and presenting a clear and compelling vision for the future. Negative tactics turn off potential voters and harm the overall campaign. Peter Obi, Labour Party and obidients needs to accept the outcome of the election and work towards building a stronger and more effective campaign strategy for future elections.
The 2023 Nigerian Presidential election was a hard-fought battle and Tinubu emerged victorious in the end. Despite the outcome of the election, it is important to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of all candidates and their supporters. Moving forward, it is important for all political parties and candidates to focus on positive campaigns, because this will help to strengthen democracy in Nigeria and create a more inclusive/cohesive society. The Nigerian political landscape is complex and requires a strategic approach, so building a positive and inclusive campaign is essential for success.
Two key lessons In political strategy from the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.
1. Abuse an intimidation doesn’t secure or overshadow votes; only strategy does.
2. A positive campaigning will always outmatch a negativity campaign.
On a final note; Dear obidients, the campaign was hard-fought and tough but your approach was not enough, Tinubu and his supporters were strategic and their victory was not at all tragic. Next time take heed of the power of positive deeds, engage with voters, build a coalition and avoid negative tactics with precision. Your votes in the 2023 presidential elections counted but your abuse and intimidation were louder than your votes and that is why Peter Obi couldn’t win the election to become president of nigeria. In the end, it’s the people’s will and the winner is the one who can fulfill. So let us move on from this election and focus on our nation’s progression, with unity and purpose. We shall stand and build a better future for our country Nigeria.
