Eddy Offiong

The All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been working hard to ensure that Akwa Ibom State regains its former status as one of Nigeria’s most prosperous states, is poised to enrage other political parties.
The majority of people claim that Akwa Ibom State has become a laughing stock because there hasn’t been much development and blame the leaders for the state’s problems.
Most political analysts anticipate a close race between the other political parties and the All Progressives Congress following the governorship election, which is just around the corner.
The PDP has held the governorship for the past few years, but their chances of keeping it seem dwindling in this oil-rich state with a sizable coastline, where the APC has historically struggled to gain ground against the PDP and other opposition parties, it has been working hard to win over voters through aggressive campaigning.

2023 Elections: Celebrations Start as All Progressive Congress Lead in Akwa Ibom

With Obong Akanimo Udofia as the APC’s governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State after just winning at the appeals court, 2023 might be different for the party.
As a successful businessman, Obong Akanimo Udofia and the APC have been able to win over local and foreign business leaders as well as natives of the state who want to see improved governance.
Although it appears that the PDP is currently in control of some of the state’s senatorial districts, the APC members control key institutions that will force them to seize power in the 2023 governorship election, giving them a strong position that may aid in their ability to do so in the future.
However, because APC has put aside its differences, the election is expected to shock not only the PDP but also other political parties in Akwa Ibom State.
The party had been making gains in other states as well, but Akwa Ibom State did not turn out as well as they had hoped.
However, many believe that this party will be able to topple the flag of other political parties thanks to the support of some powerful politicians, including the governorship candidate Obong Akanimo Udofia, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, Umana Okon Umana, etc.

According to a recent survey by local media, the APC is poised to rule democratically in Akwa Ibom State. When respondents were asked to select their preferred party and candidates, the results revealed that 70% of them would vote for the APC, while only 20% would choose the PDP, and the remaining 10% would go to other political parties.
Comparatively, only a small number of voters preferred the PDP over the APC in previous elections.

All Progressives Congress 

Even though it’s too soon to tell if this will be a trend or just a passing fad, it is nonetheless encouraging.
However, the majority of political parties have started defaming the personalities of candidates from other political parties, which in my opinion shouldn’t be the case.
Issue-based campaigns ought to be prominent for this reason.
One of the most fiercely contested governorship elections in Akwa Ibom State since 1999 was held in 2015. Now that the 2015 general elections have passed, it is important to emphasize that, unlike elections, the level of political tension and anxiety that characterized this particular election was unquestionably unmatched.

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However, the election that year was notable not only for being tense but also for the manner in which these various campaigns were carried out and the shape they took.
Even worse, many of these campaigns placed a lot more emphasis on personalities than on issues.
This makes it essential that we take a moment to consider what will set the ongoing campaigns for the 2023 election apart from other campaigns.

Akwa Ibom is a very populous state, with an estimated population of over six million as of 2015 records, which is the first thing we must note. Therefore, if you want to be heard by Akwa Ibom residents, you must be able to speak for them and persuade them that your ideas are superior to those put forth by other candidates running for office at the same time.
Second, let’s examine some fundamental election facts: no candidate has ever received a majority of the vote against their rival, nor have any of them ever received more than 50% of the vote within their own party. Finally, both candidates have spent millions upon millions of naira trying to defeat one another.
The campaigns’ styles tended to be more personality-based than issue-based. Although there were some topics that candidates heavily and successfully campaigned on, like security and unemployment rates, these were not covered in-depth during their campaign periods.
Instead, the main point of discussion for each candidate was what, if elected, he or she could accomplish for the general public. Because they did not see any correlation between the platform of their candidate and their own issues or aspirations, this strategy failed to engage citizens with political ideas.

This experience has made it abundantly clear that we require more educational campaigns that tackle the problem of corruption in our society rather than endorsing individuals who will only serve their own interests while caring nothing for those of anyone outside their immediate sphere of influence.

We haven’t yet seen issue-based campaigns that will significantly alter the Nigerian political landscape. This is because most of the campaign strategies were built around a limited understanding of what constitutes an issue or how to effectively address it.
This strategy has often been ineffective because it ignores the actual issues that people are currently facing and instead only pays attention to people who are readily recognizable as “role models” or “heroes” among their peers (eg politicians).
Politicians have mastered the art of using propaganda to sway voters in a country like Nigeria where politics is frequently seen as a zero-sum game. In some cases, this has helped them win over the electorate and garner support. While many Nigerians are quick to point out the detrimental effects of such tactics on democracy and human rights, others think that if it weren’t for these strategies, their party would not have won the elections.
It is obvious that issue-based campaigns are needed in Akwa Ibom State; issues must receive more attention than people.
It is no longer news that Nigerian politicians avoid addressing issues during election campaigns as time goes on.
They care more about winning elections than meeting the needs of the populace; they prioritize power and wealth over serving the interests of their supporters.
People who lack sufficient knowledge of their surroundings and society at large are the most vulnerable. During campaign rallies and town hall meetings, voters must be able to ask questions about issues that concern them, and politicians must put the needs of the people before their own interests.
The most crucial aspect of a campaign for office is for candidates to pay attention to, comprehend, and address concerns raised by voters, particularly by those who depend most on government services, such as educators or those in the medical field.
Election season requires that voters become more responsible by becoming aware of their potential gains and losses. This is why it’s critical that voters have the opportunity to voice their concerns and ask questions during town hall meetings and campaign rallies. Politicians must put the needs of the people before their own interests in order to improve how well the people are served by the government.
In order to cast an informed ballot on election day, it is critical for the voter to be aware of the issues that are most significant in their community.

As a result, more people will be motivated to vote and will feel more ownership over the results because they will be more aware of the issues that are most crucial to them personally.
Because of this, voters must become more responsible by becoming more informed during elections so they understand what they stand to gain or lose.
In addition, during campaign rallies and town hall meetings, voters must be able to ask questions about issues that concern them, and politicians must put the needs of the people before their own interests.