Public affairs commentator Mahdi Shehu has advised Nigerians to exercise greater caution and critical thinking when selecting leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Shehu urged voters to look beyond campaign slogans, religious sentiments, and public displays of piety often showcased by politicians during election periods.
“As 2027 elections get closer, it will be important that voters are given a pro bono advisory,” he said.
He encouraged citizens to reflect deeply before deciding who to support, warning that many political slogans are designed to mislead.
“Don’t be carried away by slogans, because almost all party slogans are deceptive and a trap to lure voters,” he said.
Shehu also cautioned against voting based on religion, stressing that such sentiments may not accurately represent the true character of candidates.
“Don’t be carried away by religious claims and sentiments,” he said, adding that such actions often contradict national interest.
He further criticised politicians who suddenly become visibly religious during election periods, attending different mosques and churches while making donations.
“Irrespective of party platforms, don’t be carried away by those politicians who begin to frequent Friday prayers in different mosques or Sunday services in different churches with donations,” he said.
The commentator urged voters to thoroughly investigate the background of candidates before offering support.
“Dig deep into their past history,” he said.
He stressed that aspirants should not have any criminal convictions either in Nigeria or abroad.
Shehu also advised Nigerians to ensure that candidates have no links to crimes such as human trafficking, organ harvesting, or drug trafficking, and that their sources of wealth are legitimate.
“Make sure that they have a clearly identified and verifiable family lineage and that their source of wealth is not rooted in fraud and such other crimes,” he added.
He warned against electing candidates with a history of abandoning their constituencies after securing victory at the polls.
“Confirm that such an aspirant is not one of those who had in the past or who is likely in the future to abandon his constituency and relocate to Abuja after winning elections,” he said.
“Carry out a thorough personality and character audit. Don’t be carried away by their physical looks, mode of dressing and automobiles they parade,” he said.
In addition, Shehu advised voters to demand firm commitments from candidates in writing.
“Pin them down to a written and enforceable Memorandum of Understanding and make a video recording of the same for rainy days,” he advised.
