Survey reveals low awareness of Moghalu, Durotoye parties

A poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that asides the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party, the electorates have a low awareness of most political parties in Nigeria.

The poll showed that of the 91 registered political parties and 73 participating parties, most Nigerians are aware of about 26 of the parties.

It involved a nationwide interview of 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians representing the six geopolitical zones in the country.

The survey showed that apart from the two most popular parties the respondents were most aware of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)  with a 32 per cent awareness rating, followed by Social Democratic Party (SDP) with 17 per cent.

Despite having the endorsement of the Northern Christian group and having a substantial following among the online audience, Kingsley Moghalu’s political party, Young Progressives Congress, was known by only 2 per cent of the respondents sampled across all geographic zones in the country.

Moghalu’s party got the highest recognition in the South-South where it was recognised by 3% of the voters. In the North Central and North West, the hopes of the former deputy governor of the Central Bank looked bleak as only 1 per cent of the voters from both zones were aware of YPP.

Moghalu has been vocal in his push to rid Nigeria of poverty if he becomes President. He has been lauded in some circles as having the most practical economic policies in his manifesto. However, the YPP candidate’s according to the poll is not a popular choice across the country.

Fela Durotoye’s All for New Nigeria fared better in the poll, placing fifth in the awareness chart behind the Social Democratic Party. ANN peaked at 11 per cent in the South-West where Durotoye has a strong support base. His party was least recognised in both the Northeast and North West where only 4% of the those sampled were aware.

In spite of a push for a third force to overthrow the dichotomy of PDP and APC especially in the presidential elections, the polls show an improbability of a party outside PDP and APC emerging winners of the elections on February 16.