Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, is leading the latest survey of the most preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 election.
Obi polled 72% ahead of other candidates featured in the survey conducted by Bloomberg News.
Bloomberg reports that Premise Data, the San Francisco-headquartered data company surveyed 3,973 Nigerians from September 5 to 20.
Respondents to the app-based poll were selected from quotas developed by age, gender and location across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Results were then weighted against the original quotas to ensure national representation.
About 44% of Nigerians own smartphones, according to the Alliance for Affordable Internet.
According to the survey result unveiled Wednesday, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) trailed behind with 16% of decided voters and 23% of those yet to make up their minds.
Former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, trailed yet far behind with 9% and 17% respectively.
Analysis of the survey, revealed that majority of respondents captured in the poll said “they intend to vote for Peter Obi,” in the 2023 presidential election scheduled for February.
Further details of the survey shows that out of the 92% of participants who said they had decided how to vote, 72% named Obi as their first choice.
Of those who are still unsure, 45% still indicated Obi as their preferred candidate.
The candidates of the two parties that have ruled Nigeria since the restoration of democracy in 1999 fared less well.
Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress garnered 16% of decided voters and 23% of those yet to make up their minds.
Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party tallied 9% and 17% respectively.
Further analysis also revealed that three quarters of respondents said that Nigeria “is heading in the wrong direction.”
“A combined 88% listed the economy and jobs, corruption, and security – three pillars of the campaign that brought Buhari to power in 2015 – as the most important issues facing their communities,” the survey said.
According to the survey, over 65% tipped Obi as the candidate best able to improve the economy, tackle corruption and reduce insecurity.
While Obi was on top of each of the indices, Tinubu ranked second on each measure, ahead of Atiku.
Ikengaonline reports that Obi had also finished top in two earlier polls published in September.
Most respondents believe that their votes will count in the forthcoming elections, and expressed interest in participating in the exercise.
