New National Poll Highlights Cost Of Living Crisis, Governance Concerns Ahead Of 2027 Elections

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Ngozi Uma

A new nationwide opinion poll has revealed growing public dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with a majority of respondents expressing concerns over the direction of the country, economic conditions and confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.

The survey, conducted by Harmattan Intelligence and released on Tuesday, sampled 1,000 registered voters across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones through telephone interviews conducted in English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Pidgin.

According to the report, 75 percent of respondents strongly disapproved of President Tinubu’s performance, while 15 percent expressed strong approval. Seven percent said they somewhat disapproved of the administration.

The poll also found that 80 percent of respondents believe Nigeria is moving in the wrong direction, while 15 percent said the country is on the right path.

On personal economic conditions, 70 percent of those surveyed said their situation had become much worse since Tinubu assumed office, while another 12 percent said their circumstances had somewhat worsened. Only 15 percent reported an improvement in their living conditions.

Economic concerns emerged as a dominant theme in the survey. Eighty-five percent of respondents said transport costs had increased significantly since the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, while 45 percent reported that they often struggle to afford three meals a day.

The poll also assessed public perceptions of potential contenders ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

According to the report, a proposed joint ticket involving Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso recorded the highest favourability ratings among the names tested, with 55 per cent of respondents expressing a very favourable view and 25 per cent indicating a somewhat favourable opinion.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recorded mixed ratings, with 40 percent expressing a somewhat favourable view, while President Tinubu attracted predominantly unfavourable ratings among respondents surveyed.

The report identified cost of living and food prices as the most important issues likely to influence voters in 2027, with 50 percent of respondents citing it as their primary concern. Security and violence ranked second at 25 percent, followed by corruption and accountability at 15 percent.

The survey also highlighted widespread scepticism about the electoral process. Sixty percent of respondents said they were not at all confident that the 2027 elections would be free and fair, while 30 percent said they were not very confident.

Despite these concerns, voter enthusiasm appeared high, with 65 percent of respondents saying they were certain to vote in the next general election and another 25 percent indicating they were very likely to participate.

State-by-state findings showed varying political trends, although disapproval ratings remained high across several states surveyed, including Adamawa, Kano, Lagos, Anambra, Oyo and Bayelsa.

Harmattan Intelligence said the survey was designed to assess presidential approval ratings, voter sentiment on key national issues, and the viability of potential candidates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The organisation noted that the findings indicate that economic conditions, governance performance, and confidence in democratic institutions are likely to be key factors shaping voter attitudes ahead of 2027.