Akpata’s recent appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” political show has sparked heated discussions about his chances of winning the September 21 governorship election in a South-Eastern state. As a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akpata cleared up rumours that he was only running as a decoy for Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki in case the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, was disqualified from the race.
The Party of Labour initially dismissed the insinuations, saying Akpata was indeed a serious contender for the election. Similarly, Akpata denied speculation that Obaseki was funding his campaign, stressing that they did not share the same political ideology.
Recent polls conducted by the African Survey Institute (API) put Ighodalo ahead in the election race, followed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in second, with Akpata a distant second. The results showed that the PDP candidate had the support of 43% of the likely voters, while Okpebholo and Akpata garnered 20% and 9% of the vote respectively.
However, when confronted with these figures on the show, Akpata dismissed the results, saying that another online poll conducted by journalist Rufai Oseni and blogger Tunde Ednut showed that he was on course to win. He cited impressive figures from these alternative polls to bolster his confidence in his electoral success.
Nigerians’ reactions on social media were mixed, with some expressing doubts about the reliability of online polls, while others seemed skeptical of Akpata’s claims. It is clear that political campaigns are now also played out on social media, and the results of online polls can influence public opinion and voter perceptions.
Ultimately, whether these online polls are taken with a grain of salt or not, they highlight the growing importance of online presence for political candidates. In an ever-changing political landscape, the ability to understand and effectively use social media can mean the difference between victory and defeat in elections. Politicians must be aware of the potential impact of digital platforms on their image and credibility, and adapt their strategies accordingly.
In an era where information travels quickly and opinions are formed in an instant, the ability to successfully navigate the digital landscape can be a valuable asset for any political candidate looking to win over voters.