- Discontent, Performance and Candidate Credibility Emerge as Key Issues Across States
By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
Nigerian voters in several states and the Federal Capital Territory have told 9News Nigeria that they intend to base their choices in the 2027 elections increasingly on individual candidates, their records and perceived capacity rather than simply voting for candidates presented by political parties.
Interviews conducted by 9News Nigeria correspondents across different political gatherings and communities indicated growing frustration among voters over what some described as the imposition of candidates and party structures without sufficient consideration for performance, credibility, grassroots acceptance and the relationship between candidates and their constituencies.
The emerging sentiment does not suggest that political parties have become irrelevant. Rather, voters interviewed across the locations said party affiliation alone would not be enough to secure their votes, with several insisting that candidates would have to convince them individually before receiving their support.
The position is also reflected in recent voter research. An Invictus Africa survey of 11,196 eligible voters across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory found substantial willingness among voters to support candidates based on individual qualities. The survey found that 64.4 per cent of respondents would vote for a woman in 2027, while 74.3 per cent said they would support a young candidate, challenging assumptions that voters automatically reject candidates because of their identity.
In Abia State, voters interviewed by 9News Nigeria correspondents expressed strong support for Governor Alex Otti, with several attributing their preference to what they described as his performance in office. Some respondents said they would follow Otti and support candidates he endorses across different levels of government.
Independent assessments have also recorded positive perceptions of Otti’s administration. A 2026 study involving 384 usable questionnaires and 15 interviewees from Abia’s three senatorial zones reported generally positive perceptions of the administration, particularly in infrastructure, economy, education, healthcare, security and public-resource management.
The situation in Imo State presents a different political picture, according to stakeholders who spoke with 9News Nigeria on Tuesday. Some said Governor Hope Uzodimma could face a more complicated electoral environment in which support for him personally may not automatically translate into support for every candidate associated with his political structure.
Stakeholders also linked the issue to the governor’s succession strategy and his earlier commitment to a charter-of-equity arrangement for the 2027 governorship. They argued that the acceptability of whoever eventually emerges as the APC candidate could influence how voters respond to the party’s zoning argument. These remain political assessments by the stakeholders interviewed and not established electoral outcomes.
The controversy surrounding the postponed Imo State local government elections has also become part of the discussion. ISIEC originally scheduled the elections for September 26 but later postponed them amid legal and political challenges. The commission has now fixed November 7, 2026, for the polls following consultations with the Inter-Party Advisory Council.
Some Imo stakeholders interviewed by 9News Nigeria said the postponement had deepened their distrust of the state electoral process, while opposition voices questioned whether the rescheduled exercise would attract broad confidence. ISIEC, however, has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
In Enugu State, correspondents who visited parts of Nkanu, Ngwo, Emene and Nsukka reported conversations with voters who expressed limited enthusiasm for the broader political process. Some of those interviewed said their votes would be determined by individual candidates rather than political parties.
A similar sentiment emerged from Anambra State, where voters interviewed by correspondents raised concerns about governance under Governor Chukwuma Soludo and said their electoral decisions would be based on their preferred candidates rather than automatic support for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. The comments represent the views of those interviewed and should not be interpreted as a statewide measurement of voter opinion.
In Lagos State, however, the picture was different. Voters who spoke with 9News Nigeria expressed willingness to support candidates associated with the political direction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, with respondents citing the governor’s performance as a reason for their position. Some also pointed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s longstanding political influence in Lagos and his relationship with the state’s political structure.
In the Federal Capital Territory, some residents interviewed expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as poor governance, economic pressure and insecurity. Some respondents said they wanted a change in political leadership and mentioned former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi when discussing their preferred political choices.
The political atmosphere is equally complicated in Rivers State, where the longstanding rivalry involving Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Rotimi Amaechi has created competing political camps. Voters interviewed by correspondents described the situation as confusing and said the divisions could encourage some voters to consider individual candidates rather than party structures.
In Ebonyi State, voters interviewed across political gatherings similarly questioned the performance of the administrations of Governor Francis Nwifuru and former Governor Dave Umahi, who is now the Minister of Works. Some respondents said they would examine the capacity and record of individual candidates rather than vote strictly according to party affiliation.
Correspondents also reported similar conversations in Edo, Ondo, Kebbi, Benue, Nasarawa, Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Yobe and Sokoto, where voters interviewed expressed varying degrees of dissatisfaction with political parties and said candidate credibility, performance, grassroots relationships and perceived capacity would influence their choices.
The nationwide picture emerging from the interviews is therefore not necessarily a rejection of political parties, but a demand from some voters for greater consideration of the individuals presented on the ballot.
For the parties, the development could make candidate selection increasingly important as the 2027 elections approach. Voters interviewed by 9News Nigeria repeatedly questioned why they should be expected to support an entire party structure when they believe particular candidates lack the record, capacity or grassroots acceptance required for public office.
With political parties already positioning themselves for the 2027 contest, the emerging question is whether established party structures will retain their traditional influence at the polling booth or whether individual candidates will increasingly have to win voters on their own records.
For now, the message from the voters interviewed across the country is clear: party logo alone, they say, may no longer be enough to earn their votes.
For inquiries on this news report contact 9News Nigeria on +234 08036856526
