Lawyer and public policy analyst, Dr Chris Nwaokobia, says any presidential candidate who presents Nigerians with a workable and affordable manifesto can emerge as a strong contender in the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Nwaokobia called on presidential candidates to move beyond campaign promises and present Nigerians with concrete plans to address the country’s challenges.
“Any candidate that comes to the Nigerian people with a workable and affordable manifesto can steal the show in January 2020,” he said.
He stressed the need for candidates to outline practical programmes, funding arrangements and timelines for implementing their campaign promises, arguing that Nigerians need clear commitments rather than general assurances.
“We do not just want promises. We’re looking at concrete manifestos.
“We’re looking at workable manifestos. We’re looking at how they will fund their programmes, we’re looking at fundamental timelines,” Nwaokobia said.
He challenged presidential candidates to explain what they would prioritise during their first 100 days in office and how they would implement their plans throughout their four-year tenure.
“What are you going to do when you get into power in the first 100 days? What will you do first? What will you do second year? What will you do third year and fourth year?” he asked.
According to him, the challenges facing Nigeria require a different approach from the promises made during the 2023 election campaign.
“Largely, I think that our country must understand that the urgency of now is way different from what we had in 2023, where we listened to candidates who made us promises without timelines, without concrete, achievable, and workable programmatic,” he said.
Nwaokobia disclosed that his movement, Country First Programme, was assessing the manifestos presented by presidential candidates to determine which offered the most credible solutions to the country’s challenges.
“The country’s first programme, which is a movement I head, has been involved in looking at the manifestos that have been sent across to us. And we are assessing them,” he said.
He added that the movement intended to present its assessment to Nigerians and explain which manifesto it considered best suited to the country’s needs.
“And sooner rather than later, maybe before the end of the month of October, we shall address Nigerians and tell them what manifesto we think is the best for our country, and where we think that we should align with the candidates and support the candidate for the high office of president,” Nwaokobia said.
The analyst also identified the Social Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, as one of the contenders who had presented a detailed manifesto.
He said Adebayo had distinguished himself by setting out his proposals and communicating his approach to Nigerians.
“He has come across with a formidable manifesto. He has launched his manifesto. And everywhere, Nigerians are saying they understand his approach.
“They understand his message and his plan,” Nwaokobia said.
He added that the ability to articulate practical solutions and demonstrate how they would be implemented would be central to determining which candidates could win public support.
Nwaokobia maintained that presidential hopefuls must demonstrate how their policies would address the concerns of ordinary Nigerians, particularly the cost of living and the broader economic challenges facing the country.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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