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Tinubu will lose only if election is held on social media - Gov Uba Sani

From The Punch · (34m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani stated President Bola Tinubu would only lose the 2027 election if voting occurred on social media.
  • Sani argued that online popularity does not translate to electoral strength at polling units.
  • He predicted Tinubu would win 70% of the votes in a traditional ballot election.

In the lead-up to Nigeria's next general elections, political discourse is heating up, and the role of social media in shaping public perception versus actual electoral outcomes is a key point of discussion. Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has weighed in, offering a strong perspective that President Bola Tinubu's electoral strength lies firmly in the physical polling booths, not the digital realm.

Sani's assertion that Tinubu would only face defeat if the election were conducted on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram is a bold statement. It directly addresses the growing influence of social media in Nigerian politics, particularly the significant online support observed for opposition figures like Peter Obi in past elections. The governor's argument highlights a common sentiment among many political observers in Nigeria: that the vocal and often passionate online community does not always represent the broader electorate, especially in rural areas where traditional voting patterns hold sway.

This perspective from Governor Sani, a key figure in the ruling All Progressives Congress, underscores the party's confidence in its grassroots support and traditional electoral machinery. While acknowledging the buzz on social media, he dismisses it as a poor indicator of real-world voting power. This viewpoint is crucial for understanding how political campaigns might strategize, focusing on ground-level mobilization rather than solely on online engagement. The governor's remarks serve as a reminder that in Nigeria, as in many countries, the ballot box remains the ultimate arbiter of political power, and online trends, while visible, do not always dictate the final results.

If the election is going to be conducted on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or social media, Asiwaju will lose, but if it is people who will vote through the ballot at polling units, he is going to win 70% of the votes.

โ€” Uba SaniGovernor Sani explained his view on President Tinubu's electoral prospects based on the voting method.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.