2027 polls: Harrison urges Nigerians to scrutinise candidates’ track records

As political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum, leadership scholar and governance expert, Professor Christian Harrison, has said Nigeria’s persistent governance challenges have evolved beyond a leadership problem into an institutional crisis, warning that public trust in political leaders will continue to decline unless leaders begin to build systems that outlive their tenures.

Speaking during a recent interview, Harrison said decades of unfulfilled promises, weak institutions and poor leadership culture have created a widening trust deficit between Nigerians and their leaders.

According to him, while Nigerians remain hopeful during election seasons, recurring disappointments have eroded confidence in leadership across the country.

“The problem with Nigeria is that we have a leadership challenge. But beyond leadership, it has now become an institutional challenge as well,” Harrison said.

“Every election comes with hope and excitement because people believe things will change. Unfortunately, when expectations are not met, people become disappointed and lose trust in their leaders.”

He argued that Nigeria’s biggest challenge is not the absence of talented individuals but the inability of leaders to establish enduring systems capable of functioning independently of personalities.

“We need to change how we view leadership and how we reward leadership. Most times, people reward mediocrity. During elections, it becomes all about political parties, but are we really looking at what candidates can offer?” he queried.

According to him, strong institutions rather than powerful individuals are the foundation of sustainable development.

“As a leader, you should be able to reproduce yourself and reproduce systems. In Nigeria, unfortunately, the systems don’t work. That remains one of our biggest problems.

“When you look at countries like the UK and the United States, regardless of who becomes president or prime minister, there are systems and structures that continue to function. Leaders come and go, but institutions remain.”

He said Nigeria’s overreliance on individual leaders often creates unrealistic expectations among citizens, leading to repeated cycles of hope and frustration.

“We tend to adore leaders and place too much expectation on them. Because of that, we get disappointed. One person cannot change the world. Leadership should not be centred on personalities; it should be about building institutions that continue to work even when the leader is gone.”

Harrison also identified overpromising by political leaders as one of the recurring mistakes in Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999.

“Leadership is also about perception. Most politicians come into office promising everything from uninterrupted electricity to economic transformation. The problem is that expectations often do not match reality,” he said.

Despite his criticism of governance failures, Harrison acknowledged that Nigeria has produced competent public servants who have made significant contributions to national development.

He cited former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for her role in securing debt relief for Nigeria and late former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dora Akunyili, for her impact in public service.

“We have fantastic people in Nigeria. We have the talent. We have people who have delivered results. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala did exceptionally well, particularly in debt relief, and Dora Akunyili also left a remarkable legacy,” he said.

On the issue of declining public trust, Harrison described trust as the “currency of leadership,” stressing that integrity remains the most important ingredient for restoring confidence in government.

“Without trust, leadership becomes impossible. Leaders must do what they say they will do. Integrity is critical. If people know that a leader’s word can be trusted, then confidence begins to return.”

He urged political office seekers ahead of the 2027 elections to focus on realistic promises, honesty and accountability rather than relying on charisma and campaign slogans.

“Leadership is not just about charisma. Charisma alone can be manipulative. What matters is character, values, competence and integrity,” he said.

The professor also challenged Nigerians to adopt more rigorous standards when assessing candidates seeking elective office.

“If somebody says they want to become president or governor, we should be asking questions. What is your track record? What have you done before? How did you handle previous challenges? What evidence is there that you can deliver on your promises?

“If I were interviewing someone for a job, I wouldn’t ask which political party they belong to. I would ask about their vision, their competence and what they can actually do.”

While acknowledging the severe economic hardship currently facing Nigerians, Harrison noted that economic difficulties are not unique to Nigeria, pointing out that several countries have faced similar challenges.

However, he said the difference lies in leadership transparency and the existence of clear recovery plans.

“People can endure hardship when they know there is a plan and when leaders are honest about the situation. Countries like Rwanda, India and Colombia faced difficult periods, but they communicated clearly with their citizens and provided direction.

“The challenge in Nigeria is that there is often a disconnect between promises and reality. Leaders must be honest about what is possible and what is not.”

He maintained that Nigeria still possesses enormous potential for growth and development but insisted that progress would depend largely on the quality of leadership and the strength of institutions.

“Nigeria can change. I am optimistic about that. But we need leaders who are honest, visionary, competent and willing to build systems that can survive beyond their tenure,” Harrison added.