This is a rejoinder to the FP post Tinubu Has Already Won 2027. So Why Are We Voting? which I found quite dubious.
Do not despair or be discouraged.
Propaganda has always been a weapon in politics. It can be used to create confusion, doubt and hopelessness. Whether intentional or not, this is exactly the effect narratives like this can have.
If you repeatedly tell frustrated Nigerians that an election has already been decided and that voting is pointless, you depress and demoralize them. Eventually, some will simply decide there is no point showing up on Election Day.
Make no mistake: high voter turnout is one of the biggest obstacles an unpopular incumbent dreads.
That being said, let's face the reality. There is a consistent decline in voter turnout during elections in Nigeria. Voter apathy is real, and if it happens again in 2027, Tinubu will win the election. But it won't be because of rigging, it will be because millions of Nigerians stayed home and handed him the one advantage he needed.
The lesson from 2023 should not be that voting is pointless. It should be that voter apathy is dangerous for political change.
If Nigerians really want a different government in 2027, then the answer to voter apathy is mass mobilization.
I see opposition parties organizing at the state level. This is commendable, but it must spread to the LGs, villages, wards, and polling units.
Do targeted outreach. Identify people who have not voted in recent elections and find out why. Talk to them and convince them to come out and vote. These small efforts on a large scale could change the outcome of the election.
Every voter must become a mobilizer. Talk to your neighbour, friend or relative who doesn't vote. When the message hits home, interest rises.
You don't need to be a politician. You don't need thousands of followers on social media. Just step outside your house or workplace and talk to someone.
Sometimes, merely showing enthusiasm about voting can motivate someone else to participate. Even having a conversation can reveal something important about why people don't vote, which is valuable information that can help confront the issue.
Don't allow frustration with politicians, disappointment with the economy or distrust of the political system to make the decision for you. Election Day is one day. Show up and perform your civic duty.
Then encourage someone else to do the same.
Voter apathy is one of the greatest gifts you can give an incumbent in 2027. Don't give anyone that advantage.
Tinubu has not already won 2027. But if millions of Nigerians decide there is no point in voting, they may end up handing him victory on a platter, a la carte.