As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 General Elections, the Presidency has cautioned politicians against confusing social media visibility with genuine electoral support, warning that the politics of perception could prove vastly different from the reality at the polling booth.

The warning was conveyed by the President’s media aide, Tunde Rahman, who said politicians seeking electoral advantage must look beyond the popularity they appeared to enjoy on digital platforms and reconnect with voters at the grassroots.

Rahman said the growing dominance of social media in political communication had created a new dimension in electoral politics, where trending hashtags, viral posts, large followership and coordinated online campaigns could create an exaggerated impression of political strength.

He, however, stressed that such digital visibility did not necessarily translate into votes.

According to him, the real measure of electoral strength lies not in the volume of online conversations generated by a politician but in the depth of support established among voters across communities, wards and polling units.

He said the distinction would become increasingly important as political parties and aspirants intensify their mobilisation for 2027.

Rahman cautioned that politicians could easily fall into the trap of believing their own online narratives, particularly when surrounded by supporters who constantly reinforce their perception of popularity.

He said the digital environment could create an echo chamber in which political actors mistake visibility within a particular online community for acceptance across the wider electorate. (The Guardian)

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