Beyond tribe and emotion: Why Nigeria must learn to vote for competence and consequence, By Kayode Adebiyi

Nigeria's democratic process suffers from a critical flaw: an overreliance on emotional voting that sidelines competence and consequence, according to Kayode Adebiyi in Premium Times Nigeria. This tendency often leads to the selection of leaders based on tribal affiliations or emotional appeals rather than their capacity to govern effectively.

Adebiyi observes that many aspiring presidential candidates are not actively campaigning to dismantle the foundational reforms initiated by the current administration. Notably, none are proposing a return to the costly fuel subsidy regime, a reversal of the tightly controlled foreign exchange system, or a halt to crucial infrastructure projects like rail expansion and airport modernization.

The author argues that this emotional voting pattern prevents Nigeria from progressing. The electorate's focus on sentiment rather than policy outcomes means that the true measure of a leader's success, the tangible impact of their decisions, is often overlooked. Adebiyi calls for a fundamental shift in voter behavior, urging Nigerians to prioritize competence and the demonstrable consequences of leadership choices to foster a more effective and consequential democracy.