How to win an election in Nigeria
NaijaRock
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Posted by Felix Okoli on Saturday July 21, 2012 10:40:56:
In Nigeria, just like any other country where democracy is growing, people are beginning to understand how elections work and how people get to power.
When someone has a political ambition for an office, how does he get to win? What sacrifices does he make to achieve that political ambition? In a democratic setting, people get to win elections if they enjoy popular support and are loved by the general public. In every election, there are mostly more than one candidate so every candidate needs to work in trying to outdo his opposition since you are both vying for the same office. You need to present an appealing proposition to the public so that they would be willing to vote for you. It's really all about numbers and the more numbers you get to your side, the better your chances of winning.Tips for winning an election in Nigeria
- Start early:
You need to build a good political background early in order to make it really strong and formidable when everything heats up. Avoid having a bad reputation as it can ruin your chances.- Get popular:
That's how many people get to power in a democratic setting. Some people are born popular while some acquire popularity because of what they did. For instance, your family name may make you popular, something you did or didn't do may also make you popular. - Be educated:
Educated people are more likely to win votes in Nigeria than the ones less educated. The educated are more honoured in the society so you can do better if you go for an academic programme and get qualifications if you have not done so already.- Connect with people:
You need to have your own grassroot of supporters. You need to get informed of demographics of people more likely to vote for you like your tribe, neighbors, class mates, colleagues, . You should connect with them on a regular basis such as town meetings, public outings, presentations, talks and rallies. It may not necessarily be politically inclined until you are ready to declare your political ambition. Get their contacts and even use social networking tools.- Set up a campaign organisation:
You should register your campaign organisation and even open a bank account to receive, manage and disburse funds. Have an office for reaching out to the public and group voters.- Publicize your proposals:
You need to take a stand and let people know what your campaign is about. What do you hope to achieve for them when you get to office. What should they expect from your win. It is easier to get people people vote for you if they know what you stand for.- Use SMS:
If you have contacts of people within your target voting area, then you can easily campaign to them by sending them text messages via sms regularly to give them updates on your campaign such as where to meet, what to do and what you stand for.- Use advertising:
There are many forms of advertising and tradition advertising has to do with making use of tradition media like TVs, radios and newspapers - Those would probably connect you more with the old folks. If you however also want to connect more with younger generation of Nigerians, you also need to make use of internet and mobile phone advertising. The more you invest, the higher your chances of getting votes from your target audience. You can get free advertising by setting up a facebook account, Youtube channel. You can also use paid advertising and sms.- Have a website:
Most politicians now have an official website and a team that manages it. Not having one may be belittling to your reputation and may also limit your ability to send your message across to everyone. With a website, you can publish everything you want people to know about you and what your plans are for the public.
Comments:
In Nigeria, just like any other country where democracy is growing, people are beginning to understand how elections work and how people get to power.
When someone has a political ambition for an office, how does he get to win? What sacrifices does he make to achieve that political ambition? In a democratic setting, people get to win elections if they enjoy popular support and are loved by the general public. In every election, there are mostly more than one candidate so every candidate needs to work in trying to outdo his opposition since you are both vying for the same office. You need to present an appealing proposition to the public so that they would be willing to vote for you. It's really all about numbers and the more numbers you get to your side, the better your chances of winning.Tips for winning an election in Nigeria
- Start early:
You need to build a good political background early in order to make it really strong and formidable when everything heats up. Avoid having a bad reputation as it can ruin your chances.- Get popular:
That's how many people get to power in a democratic setting. Some people are born popular while some acquire popularity because of what they did. For instance, your family name may make you popular, something you did or didn't do may also make you popular. - Be educated:
Educated people are more likely to win votes in Nigeria than the ones less educated. The educated are more honoured in the society so you can do better if you go for an academic programme and get qualifications if you have not done so already.- Connect with people:
You need to have your own grassroot of supporters. You need to get informed of demographics of people more likely to vote for you like your tribe, neighbors, class mates, colleagues, . You should connect with them on a regular basis such as town meetings, public outings, presentations, talks and rallies. It may not necessarily be politically inclined until you are ready to declare your political ambition. Get their contacts and even use social networking tools.- Set up a campaign organisation:
You should register your campaign organisation and even open a bank account to receive, manage and disburse funds. Have an office for reaching out to the public and group voters.- Publicize your proposals:
You need to take a stand and let people know what your campaign is about. What do you hope to achieve for them when you get to office. What should they expect from your win. It is easier to get people people vote for you if they know what you stand for.- Use SMS:
If you have contacts of people within your target voting area, then you can easily campaign to them by sending them text messages via sms regularly to give them updates on your campaign such as where to meet, what to do and what you stand for.- Use advertising:
There are many forms of advertising and tradition advertising has to do with making use of tradition media like TVs, radios and newspapers - Those would probably connect you more with the old folks. If you however also want to connect more with younger generation of Nigerians, you also need to make use of internet and mobile phone advertising. The more you invest, the higher your chances of getting votes from your target audience. You can get free advertising by setting up a facebook account, Youtube channel. You can also use paid advertising and sms.- Have a website:
Most politicians now have an official website and a team that manages it. Not having one may be belittling to your reputation and may also limit your ability to send your message across to everyone. With a website, you can publish everything you want people to know about you and what your plans are for the public.
Comments: