HEDA calls for peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of 2027 elections

Eight in 10 Nigerians believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new voter sentiment survey that highlights widespread public dissatisfaction ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

The findings are contained in the maiden edition of the Nigeria 2027 Voter Sentiment Tracker released by SBM Intelligence.

The survey polled 829 eligible voters across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, covering eight states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), through face-to-face interviews conducted in the third week of May 2026.

The survey, carried out in markets, schools, viewing centres and hotels, assessed voter sentiment on issues ranging from voter registration and turnout intentions to candidate favourability, confidence in the electoral process, media consumption habits and concerns over artificial intelligence (AI)-driven misinformation.

According to the report, 79.8 per cent of respondents said Nigeria was moving in the wrong direction, reflecting deep-seated concerns over governance, security and economic conditions.

Regional responses showed particularly high levels of dissatisfaction in the South-East, South-South, North-Central and North-West. The South-East recorded the highest negative sentiment at 92.2 per cent, followed by the North-Central at 90.1 per cent, South-South at 89 per cent and North-West at 88.2 per cent.

Although the figures were comparatively lower in the South-West and North-East, majorities in both regions still expressed dissatisfaction, with 60.3 per cent and 63.5 per cent of respondents, respectively, saying the country was on the wrong track.

The survey identified insecurity and terrorism as the most pressing concerns among Nigerians, with 45 per cent of respondents ranking them as their top priority.

Meanwhile, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on political parties, aspirants, candidates, supporters, and other stakeholders to ensure that preparations for the 2027 General Elections are guided by the democratic values exemplified by the June 12 struggle and its enduring legacy of credible electoral participation, national unity, and respect for the will of the people.

In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the organisation emphasised that the sacrifices made by pro-democracy activists and millions of Nigerians in the struggle for democratic governance must not be undermined by violence, hate speech, vote buying, voter intimidation, or other practices capable of eroding public confidence in the electoral process.

The group noted that as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 polls, the focus should remain on issue-based campaigns that address the pressing concerns of Nigerians, including economic recovery, security, education, healthcare, anti-corruption reforms, youth development, environmental sustainability, and institutional accountability.

The organisation strongly condemned the culture of vote buying and vote selling, warning that the monetisation of elections would weaken democratic institutions, compromise governance, and perpetuate corruption by encouraging elected officials to recover illicit campaign expenditures at the expense of public welfare.