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Rate Your Leader: Could Trump or Brexit Happen in Nigeria’s 2019 Elections?

Published

7 years ago

January 25, 2019

Eric

Next month, Nigerians vote to decide who will lead Africa’s largest economy and most populated country into the next decade. But creators of new democracy app, Rate Your Leader, are alarmed that the rise in anti-establishment candidates, fake news and foreign interference in other large democracies could hit the republic too.

President Muhammadu Buhari and opposition leader Atiku Abubakar lead a field of at least 10 presidential candidates in the February 16 poll, with elections also taking place for all federal legislators on the same day, just as March 2 will be the turn for governors of 29 states of Nigeria’s and legislators for the 36 states.

Social media giant, Facebook, this week announced it will not accept political advertisements from outside Nigeria during the elections, in an effort to prevent “foreign interference”.

Social media misinformation during the campaign has already seen President Buhari forced to deny that he had died and been replaced with a clone, following online reports.

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has been vocal throughout the campaign, including accusing the incumbent of planning to rig the elections. Outsider, Kingley Moghalu of the Young Progressive Party, was also seen as victor in recent televised debates.

some commentators have described the contest as a ‘two horse race between uninspiring candidates

New democracy app Rate Your Leader – whose mission statement is “take back democracy with technology” – has recently been launched in Nigeria to connect politicians with verified local electors using abuse-proof technology.

According to the Founder, Rate Your Leader, who doubles as Nigerian tech entrepreneur:
“Both Abubakar and Buhari are well-known to Nigerians, having held high office since the 80s and 90s. As a result some commentators have described the contest as a ‘two horse race between uninspiring candidates’.

“Experience counts for a lot in Nigerian elections, but if you’re a voter who wants to see change, you might not be inclined to trust someone who has already had nearly 40 years to deliver it with your vote, and might be attracted by an anti-establishment candidate.

“When you add into the fact that security concerns relating to Boko Haram and herder/settler clashes are bound to play a huge role in this election, the fact that a former President has arguably already undermined the credibility of the poll, and myths taking hold that one of the candidates was dead, you’re got the perfect recipe for the rise of anti-establishment sentiment.

“In other large and more-established democracies in the last few years we’ve already seen this – Brexit in Britain, Trump in America, Le Pen in France – alongside allegations of so-called ‘fake news’ being spread on social media and foreign inference in elections. There’s no reason why it couldn’t happen in Nigeria too.

“Nigerian democracy has made huge strides, with the 2015 elections seeing markedly less electoral violence than previous contests. But there is a risk that new technology could bring about a return of the bad old days. That’s why politicians need to take advantage of technology like Rate Your Leader to really engage with the people they serve”.

Rate Your Leader is a global online platform which helps politicians engage only with voters in their constituencies in an abuse-proof way. The technology allows elected leaders to truly understand what matters most to the people who elect them while allowing local people to identify and contact their representatives at the touch of a button, direct from their phones or tablets.

The app, which also allows people to check to see if they are registered to vote and identify their elected representatives at the touch of a button, is free to download from the App store and other app marketplaces.

Featured

DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

1 hour ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.

Featured

Shiites Protest in Kano over Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Eric

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, on Sunday, took to the streets of Kano metropolis to protest the killing of the Supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a joint attack by the US-Israel on Saturday.

The demonstrators, who are simply known as Shiites, trooped out in their numbers at about 2.30pm in and trekked from the Fegge Central Mosque the Islamic Movement headquarters situated at Kofar Waika in the State capital.

The demonstration, adjudged peaceful, lasted for about two hours, terminating after 4.00pm.

The demonstration was followed by speeches by their scholars that spoke about the state of affairs in the Middle East and its implications on the rest of the world. A special prayer was also offered seeking Allahs intervention for the people of Iran.

The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abudulhi Haruna Kiyawa, resisted attempts to persuade hims for official reaction to the demonstration.

Featured

Innovation Meets Vision As Glo Partners Samsung to Unveil New Galaxy S26

Published

4 days ago

February 27, 2026

Eric

In a convergence of technology and vision, digital solutions leader Globacom has entered a partnership with global electronics giant Samsung to introduce the much-anticipated Galaxy S26 Series to the Nigerian market. It is a device conceived for a generation that lives, works and dreams in real time.

The unveiling, held at Globacom’s corporate headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, gathered an august assembly of high-net-worth customers, industry figures and members of the media. The atmosphere was not merely ceremonial; it was symbolic — a quiet affirmation that when global engineering meets indigenous connectivity, innovation finds its true signal.

As part of the partnership, Globacom has commenced an exclusive pre-order window for its subscribers. Each Galaxy S26 purchased at any Gloworld outlet nationwide is bundled with 18GB of complimentary data under the Glo Smartphone Festival Data Plans delivered as 3GB monthly for six months.

In addition, customers receive a distinguished Platinum Number eSIM, accompanied by up to 10GB of extra data monthly. It is a proposition crafted not as an afterthought, but as a deliberate statement of value.

The Galaxy S26 Series itself is a study in assured sophistication. It fuses next-generation processing power with a sleek, immersive display, enhanced camera intelligence, durable battery performance and privacy screen technology. Its Agentic AI capabilities introduce a more intuitive user experience, one that anticipates need, protects data and enhances productivity.

In essence, it is a device built not merely to function, but to empower.

Speaking at the event, Samsung’s Product Manager, Sellout Platinum, Mr. Solomon Osibeluwo, described Globacom as the first partner to host the S26 masterclass session — a testament, he noted, to the enduring strength of the relationship between both organisations. He reaffirmed Samsung’s commitment to deepening this alliance, adding that the S26 Series has been meticulously engineered to enrich the calling, browsing and overall digital experience of Nigerians.

In his address, Globacom’s Head of Gloworld, Mr Mohamed Rabie, underscored that the collaboration is anchored on delivering real and measurable value. Premium technology, he remarked, must travel with meaningful benefit. He expressed pride that Globacom stands as the first partner to offer both the masterclass engagement and immediate pre-order advantages following the device’s launch in Nigeria.

Encouraging Nigerians to experience the device firsthand at Gloworld outlets nationwide, Rabie concluded with quiet conviction: “this moment transcends the unveiling of a smartphone. It signals the unfolding of new possibilities powered by intelligence, sustained by partnership, and carried on the dependable wings of connectivity”.