With 89 days to Nigeria’s January 16, 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, attention is increasingly turning to what the candidates intend to do if elected. Yet, campaign manifestos seem to be a missing item in the arsenal of tools for the next elections.
A review by OpenPolls Africa, an election research platform, found that as of October 6, only one of the 18 presidential tickets, Social Democratic Party’s Adewole Adebayo, had published a manifesto document that it could locate.
Three other tickets had reportedly announced manifestos or policy plans, but the platform said it could not find the corresponding documents online. Meanwhile, there have also been speculations that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu running for a second term under the All-Progressives Congress would be reusing his 2023 Manifesto.
Now, these findings raise an important question as the election approaches: how can voters assess their candidates’ plans when they do not even have an idea of what they intend to do if elected?
Beyond Campaign Promises
Campaign speeches, rallies and political statements have become familiar features of the election season. Candidates have discussed the economy, insecurity, unemployment, education and other national concerns. However, statements made during campaigns do not always provide the detail voters need to understand how proposed solutions would be implemented.
A manifesto offers a more structured account of a candidate’s priorities. It can outline proposed policies, spending plans, timelines and the expected outcomes of a potential administration.
Without an accessible document, the likelihood of voters finding it difficult to compare competing proposals, examine how they would be funded or determine how candidates intend to measure progress if elected might be quite high.
It is quite simple, announcing a policy direction is not necessarily the same as publishing a comprehensive manifesto that the public can read and scrutinize.
What Are Voters Expected to Compare?
Nigeria’s economic conditions, security challenges and demand for better public services make policy choices particularly core to the election debate, and ultimately the, manifesto.
Voters need to know not only what candidates intend to change but also how they propose to do it. Promises to create jobs, improve electricity, reduce living costs or strengthen security raise further questions about funding, implementation and the time required to produce results.
A detailed manifesto gives citizens, journalists, researchers and civil society organisations a basis for asking these questions before election day.
It can also provide a reference point after the election, allowing citizens to hold the parties involved accountable by comparing campaign commitments with the policies and actions of the government that eventually takes office.
A Question of Accountability
The absence of a publicly accessible manifesto does not automatically mean a candidate has no policies or that a campaign has not undertaken policy work. Some candidates may communicate their plans through speeches, policy statements or documents that are not easily accessible online.
However, public access matters. Voters should not have to rely entirely on campaign appearances, social media posts or supporters’ interpretations to understand what a candidate proposes to do.
Political parties and candidates have an opportunity to make their policy documents available in formats that Nigerians can easily access, read and discuss. Media organisations can also help by examining the proposals, seeking clarification on unclear commitments and comparing them against the country’s most pressing needs.
As the countdown continues, the question is not simply whether candidates have promises to make. It is whether voters have enough reliable information to evaluate those promises before casting their ballots.
With the election approaching, the publication of clear, detailed and accessible manifestos would give Nigerians a stronger basis for making informed choices — and a clearer standard against which to assess those elected to lead them.
