With just 68 days left before the 2027 general elections, citizens across Nigeria are voicing strong expectations for the next administration. Amid rising living costs, biting hunger, and persistent security worries, voters are asking presidential contenders to offer realistic solutions rather than campaign slogans.
According to a nationwide survey reported by Vanguard, the public mood reflects an urgent desire for basic stability and economic relief. Farmers, job seekers, and business operators noted that escalating fuel expenses, kidnapping fears, and unstable power continue to cripple daily life and livelihoods.
Citizens listed seven priority areas they want addressed by the next leadership: tackling insecurity, easing economic hardship, ensuring reliable electricity and infrastructure, creating employment for young people, providing quality education, making healthcare accessible, and enforcing accountability in public governance. Many participants also raised specific policy suggestions, including establishing state police, fixing public oil refineries, cutting the cost of governance, and rolling out social welfare programmes.
The election contest features President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, who is seeking a second term in office. He faces a wide field of challengers, such as former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar running on the African Democratic Congress ticket, Peter Obi representing the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on the Allied Peoples Movement platform.
Other names published by the Independent National Electoral Commission include Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress, and Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party. Additional contenders from parties such as the Labour Party, Zenith Labour Party, and Boot Party are also on the ballot.
Voters maintain that the candidates must prove they can deliver tangible improvements in food prices, safety, and business conditions rather than relying merely on broad manifestoes.
