Campaign season is heating up across Nigeria, and voters are not in the mood for vague promises. With 2027 on the horizon, ordinary Nigerians are making one thing clear to anyone seeking their vote: come with something real.
The cost of living has become the defining issue on the ground. From Lagos markets to Abuja neighbourhoods, people are feeling the pressure of rising prices in ways that make lofty campaign rhetoric land hollow. Voters want candidates to speak directly to what it costs to feed a family, pay school fees, and keep the lights on.
The ask is simple but serious. Nigerians are calling on presidential hopefuls to show up with concrete, realistic pledges rather than the sweeping declarations that have historically not translated into relief. The patience for empty promises is running thin.
With campaigning already underway and candidates crisscrossing the country, the pressure is on early. How each candidate responds to this economic mood could very well determine whether voters show up, stay home, or look elsewhere entirely.
Originally published by BusinessDay.