By JUSTINA AUTA

A nationwide voters’ preference survey has revealed that Nigerians are increasingly willing to elect women, young people and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), provided they are considered competent, qualified and possess credible leadership track records.

The findings are contained in Nigeria’s first nationally representative Voters’ Preference Survey (VPS), unveiled by Invictus Africa, a civic-tech organisation, in Abuja.

The survey examined voter behaviour ahead of the 2027 elections.

Conducted across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the pre-election survey sampled 11,196 eligible voters to assess voting patterns, electoral preferences and participation intentions ahead of 2027.

Speaking at the unveiling on Tuesday, the Executive Director of Invictus Africa, Ms Bukky Shonibare, said the survey was designed to move national discourse from assumptions to evidence through direct voter engagement.

She said the study sought to understand not only whether Nigerians intended to vote for women, youths and PWDs, but also the factors likely to influence decisions at polls.

“We believed we needed to hear from voters themselves. It is one thing to intend to vote for a woman or a person with disability; it is another thing to get to the polling unit and actually vote,” she said.

According to Shonibare, 64.4 per cent of respondents expressed willingness to vote for women in the 2027 elections, but concerns remain about whether female candidates will appear on ballots.

“What we have seen from today’s data is that 64.4 per cent of Nigerians are willing to vote for women, but the question is, will those women actually make it to the ballot?

“Many Nigerians are unaware that women, young people or persons with disabilities are even on the ballot when elections are held,” she said.

Shonibare said the survey found that 69.1 per cent of respondents had never voted for a woman, largely because many had not encountered female candidates during elections.

She added that the findings suggested voter resistance was not the primary obstacle to inclusive political representation, indicating that structural and institutional barriers remained significant challenges.

“The conversation is beyond whether women, young people or persons with disabilities become candidates. The question is how do we ensure they actually win elections,” she said.

According to her, Nigerians overwhelmingly indicated that merit, competence, honesty and proven leadership experience, rather than gender, age or disability status, would determine their voting decisions.

“When you are campaigning, don’t campaign based on identity alone. Voters are telling us that what works for them is merit, qualification and track record.

“They want evidence that if you hold office, you have the capacity to deliver,” she said.

Shonibare said the survey also showed that voters were more inclined to support women for legislative positions than executive offices, with support lowest for female presidential candidates.

She added that 74.9 per cent of respondents indicated they would definitely participate in the 2027 general elections, although security, accessibility and electoral conditions could influence eventual turnout.

Shonibare said Invictus Africa would conduct a post-election survey after the 2027 polls to compare voters’ stated intentions with their actual voting behaviour and outcomes.

“If 64.4 per cent say they will vote for a woman, but after the election only 15 per cent actually do, we want to understand why.

“Was it vote-buying? Was it violence? Was it intimidation? We want data, not assumptions, to explain the gap between intention and reality,” she said.

Earlier, the Head of Data and Research at Invictus Africa, Mr Gabriel Mobuogwu, said the survey was prompted by the absence of empirical evidence on voter perceptions.

Mobuogwu noted that while women accounted for nearly half of Nigeria’s population and registered voters, youths formed the largest voting bloc and PWDs remained underrepresented politically.

“What we found is that structural barriers remain the biggest challenge.

“Nigerians are open to voting for women, youths and persons with disabilities. What matters now is for political parties and other stakeholders to give these candidates a fair chance to emerge on the ballot,” he said.

Representing the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Technical Assistant Precious Agharese-Esai described the report as a significant development in understanding women’s political participation.

She said the findings offered a fresh perspective capable of strengthening advocacy efforts aimed at increasing women’s inclusion and representation in governance and elective positions nationwide.

Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 97.1FM, Mrs Toun Sonaiya, described the survey as a valuable resource for political actors.

“The people who matter are those who have voters’ cards and will vote on election day.

“Any politician who wants to win elections must understand the mindset of those voters, and that is exactly what this survey has provided,” she said.

Stakeholders at the event said the findings would contribute meaningfully to discussions on Nigeria’s electoral process, political inclusion and representative democracy ahead of the 2027 elections. (NAN)

Update news