By Chris Odinaka Nwedo
Across Nigeria today, the voices of lamentation are loud. From the villages to the bustling cities, citizens complain about rising food prices, insecurity, joblessness, and the daily hardship that has made survival a struggle. Fingers point at government policies seen as insensitive, corrupt, and disconnected from reality.
Yet, paradoxically, many of the same people who complain most loudly are the first to dismiss elections. “Votes don’t count,” they argue, and in doing so, they discourage even those who want to exercise their democratic right. This attitude has become a dangerous cycle: suffering leads to anger, anger leads to apathy, and apathy ensures that nothing changes.
The Power of Participation: The truth remains simple: complaints do not change governments but votes do. The most important preparation for 2027 is not endless debates about who is to blame today, but getting the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and being ready to use it. Without participation, Nigerians willingly hand over power to the very politicians they accuse of misrule.
It is often said that the arguments for or against APC, PDP, LP, ADC, or any candidate be it Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, or Bola Tinubu only make sense when backed by actual votes. Political talk in beer parlours, on radio phone-ins, or on social media platforms has no value if it is not translated into real action at the ballot box.
Breaking the Myth: “Votes Don’t Count”: The myth that votes do not count is itself a weapon used by politicians to suppress voter turnout. When citizens stay away from polling stations, rigging becomes easier. But the 2015 election showed Nigerians that an incumbent president can be voted out when people are determined. The 2023 elections also proved that massive participation can shake the political establishment.
Change will never come by silence or withdrawal. It comes when ordinary citizens insist on their right to choose who governs them. 2027 is less than two years away. The time to prepare is now. Every Nigerian of voting age must:
Register and secure a PVC: Resist discouragement. Voting is not a favor to politicians; it is a duty to oneself and future generations. Engage constructively. Debate policies and ideas, not just personalities.
Show up on election day: The future of Nigeria cannot be left to chance or to the same recycled excuses. If the average Nigerian wants better schools, hospitals, security, and opportunities, then the average Nigerian must also be willing to cast a vote.
Hardship is real. Disappointment with government is real. But boycotting elections or discouraging others from voting is not a solution, it is surrender. For 2027, the message is clear: get your PVC, be ready, and vote. Complaints without action will never bring change.