Beyond Tribe and Religion: Why Nigerians Must Shun the Politics of Sentiment

By Umar Usman Duguri

As Nigeria inches closer to every election cycle, the political atmosphere becomes charged with passionate debates, promises, and campaigns. Yet beneath the excitement lies a recurring challenge that has continued to undermine the country’s democratic progress—the politics of sentiment.

For decades, elections in Nigeria have largely been influenced by ethnic identity, religious affiliation, regional loyalty, and emotional attachment rather than competence, integrity, vision, and proven leadership. This pattern has denied the nation the opportunity to consistently elect the best individuals to manage public resources and provide effective governance.

The politics of sentiment has become one of the greatest obstacles to Nigeria’s development. Unless Nigerians Forgetconsciously reject it, the country’s aspirations for prosperity, security, and national unity may remain difficult to achieve.

Understanding the Politics of Sentiment

Politics of sentiment refers to a situation where voters support political candidates based primarily on shared ethnicity, religion, language, family ties, political patronage, or emotional loyalty instead of evaluating their qualifications, experience, policies, and performance.

Rather than asking critical questions about a candidate’s competence, many voters simply ask:

“Is he from my state?”

“Is she from my tribe?”

“Is he of my religion?”

“Will our region produce the next president?”

While identity is an important part of society, it should never outweigh merit in choosing those who will determine the future of more than 200 million Nigerians.

Democracy thrives when citizens vote based on ideas, policies, accountability, and performance—not sentiments.

The Cost of Sentimental Politics

Nigeria’s political history demonstrates that poor leadership has no tribe, no religion, and no region. Likewise, excellence in leadership is not the exclusive preserve of any ethnic or religious group.

Yet sentimental voting has repeatedly produced leaders who lacked the competence, vision, or commitment required to govern effectively.

The consequences are visible everywhere.

Millions of young Nigerians remain unemployed despite abundant natural and human resources.

Public schools continue to struggle with inadequate funding and poor infrastructure.

Hospitals remain under-equipped, forcing many citizens—including political leaders themselves—to seek medical treatment abroad.

Roads deteriorate while infrastructure projects suffer delays or abandonment.

Businesses face multiple challenges arising from insecurity, unstable power supply, inflation, and inconsistent government policies.

These realities cannot be blamed solely on one administration or one region. They are symptoms of decades of poor leadership choices made possible, in part, by a political culture that often rewards identity above competence.

Politicians Exploit Divisions

One of the most damaging consequences of sentimental politics is that it gives politicians an easy campaign strategy.

Instead of presenting practical solutions to unemployment, education, healthcare, agriculture, security, or industrial development, some politicians deliberately appeal to ethnic and religious emotions.

Campaigns become competitions over identity rather than ideas.

Citizens are encouraged to fear one another instead of discussing policies.

Communities become polarized.

Political disagreements evolve into ethnic or religious conflicts.

Meanwhile, the real issues affecting ordinary Nigerians remain unresolved.

When elections become contests of identity instead of competence, democracy loses its true purpose.

Vote Buying and Emotional Manipulation

Sentimental politics often goes hand in hand with vote buying.

Some politicians assume they do not need to present workable development plans because they can rely on ethnic loyalty or distribute money during campaigns.

This weakens democratic accountability.

Citizens who sell their votes or vote solely out of sentiment inadvertently surrender their moral authority to demand good governance afterward.

Democracy cannot flourish where votes are exchanged for temporary financial gain or emotional appeals.

Why Competence Must Come First

Leadership is about solving problems.

Nigeria requires leaders who understand governance, economic management, public administration, diplomacy, technology, security, education, and infrastructure development.

The questions every voter should ask include:

Does this candidate possess integrity?

What has this candidate achieved previously?

What policies does this candidate propose?

Can this candidate unite Nigerians?

Does the candidate have a realistic plan for improving security?

How will jobs be created?

How will healthcare improve?

What reforms are proposed for education?

How will corruption be tackled?

These questions matter far more than a candidate’s ethnic background or religious identity.

Building National Unity Through Issue-Based Politics

One of Nigeria’s greatest strengths is its diversity.

More than 250 ethnic groups coexist within one federation.

Multiple religions enrich the nation’s cultural heritage.

This diversity should be celebrated—not weaponized for political advantage.

When Nigerians begin to vote based on competence rather than identity, politicians will have little incentive to exploit divisions.

Instead, they will compete by presenting better ideas, stronger policies, and more credible leadership.

That shift alone could significantly improve governance.

The Role of the Media

The Nigerian media has a constitutional responsibility to hold leaders accountable.

Journalists should focus more on investigating campaign promises, examining candidates’ records, exposing corruption, and fact-checking political claims.

Media organizations should resist becoming platforms for divisive propaganda.

Professional journalism should educate voters rather than inflame sentiments.

An informed electorate is the strongest defence against manipulative politics.

The Responsibility of Religious and Traditional Leaders

Religious leaders command enormous influence across Nigeria.

Traditional rulers also enjoy deep respect within their communities.

Rather than endorsing candidates based solely on identity, these respected institutions should encourage peaceful participation, national unity, and issue-based voting.

Their voices can help reduce political tension and promote responsible citizenship.

The Power of Nigerian Youth

Young Nigerians constitute one of the largest voting populations in Africa.

Their collective voice can redefine Nigeria’s political future.

Instead of allowing themselves to be manipulated through misinformation, social media propaganda, or financial inducements, young voters should become champions of accountability.

They should demand debates.

They should ask difficult questions.

They should verify facts before sharing political information.

Most importantly, they should reject hate speech and divisive narratives.

The future belongs to them.

Strengthening Political Parties

Political parties must also embrace internal democracy.

Candidates should emerge through transparent, credible, and competitive primaries.

Merit should replace godfatherism.

Integrity should replace patronage.

Competence should replace favoritism.

Political parties that prioritize quality candidates ultimately strengthen democracy itself.

Civic Education Is Essential

Many Nigerians still lack sufficient understanding of their civic responsibilities.

Continuous voter education should therefore become a national priority.

Schools, civil society organizations, the media, and electoral institutions should educate citizens about the importance of issue-based politics, constitutional rights, democratic values, and accountable leadership.

A politically informed society is less vulnerable to manipulation.

Conclusion

Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its democratic evolution. The nation possesses abundant resources, energetic youth, entrepreneurial talent, and immense potential. Yet these strengths can only translate into meaningful progress if leadership is chosen wisely.

The politics of sentiment has divided communities, weakened accountability, and enabled poor governance for far too long. It has encouraged citizens to judge candidates by ethnicity, religion, or regional origin rather than by competence, integrity, and vision.

Nigeria deserves better.

Every election should be an opportunity to select leaders capable of improving the lives of all citizens—not merely satisfying sectional interests.

The ballot should be guided by conscience, evidence, and informed judgment—not by emotion, fear, or prejudice.

If Nigerians reject the politics of sentiment and embrace issue-based politics, the country will move closer to the ideals envisioned by its founding fathers: a united, peaceful, prosperous, and democratic nation where every citizen has an equal opportunity to thrive.

The responsibility lies with every voter.

The future of Nigeria will not be shaped by political slogans or sentimental loyalties. It will be shaped by the courage of citizens to vote for competence over convenience, integrity over identity, and national interest over personal sentiment.