ELECTIONS: RATIOS OF IMPULSE VOTERS, OPPONENTS AND DIE-HARD SUPPORTERS

Nigeria’s forth coming elections has seen the most vigorous campaigns ever in the history of the nation. Electoral participation is also at its peak. Every gathering of Nigerians in the world - home and diaspora - is laced with arguments (mostly heated) about the elections and its potential outcomes.

In spite of this, Nigerian has a sizable portion of impulsive voter; unable to reach a candidate-support decision even amid the vigorous argument by supporter and oppositions. This set of voters, will only make their decisions at the last hour. 

The group has many interesting characteristics and do hold some promises for contestants who understand their psychology – especially the incumbent party that has the resources to influence the voter’s experiences at the last hour. Yes! Because impulsive voter will vote by the last things or events they see, including the very conduct of the polling officers.

Beyond this group are the die-hard supporters of the different candidates, The illiterate and uncultured among them, will quickly wield weapons at the slightest criticism of their candidates. The literate are no less vicious in their defense speeches.

Irrespective of whom one supports, many Nigerians admit that the life they live today is far from the dream live or ideal. However, to this group it’s not a sign of failure of the incumbent government, which they believe has done something (its best, what do you think?). They believe it will surely do more given more time (a second term of course!)

The set of voters in Nigeria that are more desperate about “change” actually wants it yesterday. They believe the next few years will constitute immeasurable economic bondage should the current government continue (but how do we predict the reverse case should the change happen). This writer has heard this argument from many individuals and in many fora in recent times.

They suggest that allowing this government to continue will be unfavorable – even as they admit that there are no insurances for the change that they chant. 

The huge electoral participation witnessed even before elections are a reflection of the impacts of technology and social media in African governance. Politicians has since realized the potency of the tool and thus applied it mercilessly to woo voters.

Impulsive voter are very fascinating. They are unable to make up their mind based on the facts that they have and the arguments of people around them. They have reached a decision to vote, but for who? remains the million dollar question. 

They may be guided by the experiences of the morning of election or the hours preceding voting. Their minds are so plastic that, who they finally vote, might as well, depend on if there was electricity at home when they left their houses, the conduct of the government controlled security forces at the polling centers, the quality of the emergency healthcare received by a voter who faints at the polling station or the content of the last minute, propaganda text message they receive in their phones while they are already on queue.