Lawmaker representing Osun East in the National Assembly, Senator Francis Fadahunsi has urged Nigerians to look beyond political parties and campaign promises when deciding who to support in elections, saying voters should pay greater attention to the character, competence and track record of candidates.
Fadahunsi said Nigerians should critically examine the records and capabilities of politicians seeking their votes rather than allowing party loyalty or campaign inducements to determine their choices.
According to him, voters should ask fundamental questions about the candidates, including what they had achieved in the past, the ideas they were bringing to governance and whether they could be trusted with public resources.
He also urged Nigerians to consider whether political candidates genuinely understood the challenges confronting ordinary citizens.
“What has this person done before? What are their ideas? Can this person be trusted with public resources? Does the person understand the problem facing Nigerians?” he said.
The senator cautioned against turning elections into contests over who could offer the biggest gifts or make the most attractive promises during campaigns.
He said elections should instead focus on identifying candidates capable of providing responsible and effective leadership.
Fadahunsi stressed the need for voters to make informed choices based on the competence and integrity of candidates, rather than simply voting along party lines.
He maintained that the quality of leadership that emerges from elections would ultimately depend on the ability of citizens to scrutinise candidates and hold them accountable for their records and promises.
“Elections should not be reduced to a contest over who can offer the biggest gifts or make the most attractive promises during campaigns. They should be about choosing the candidate most capable of providing responsible, competent and accountable leadership” he said.
