After Nigeria electioneering campaigns, most politicians win the election but lose the implementation, is like scoring a goal and then walking off the pitch.
What makes them fail ?
The campaign was built on emotion not execution plan, Manifestos are written to win votes not to run the government. For example, I will fix Ajaokuta steel company. This sounds good at the capacity stadium rally but there is no cost, months of actions, no identified funding sources, no team assigned.
After inauguration, the new office holders meet civil service bureaucracy, budget cycle and procurement laws. None of that was in the campaign speech.
The Campaign Team vs the Government Team
Election is won by mobilizer, social media influencers, LGA coordinators and party thugs while implementation needs economists, engineers, project managers and technocrats.
The mobilizer expects to be made commissioner when they are not skilled for that task. When the are made commissioner project fails.
There is the need to separate your war cabinet from your peace cabinet. Make use of the mobilizer for campaigns and use technocrats to build reference to Singapore’s lee Juan tew and he said “election is for the people, government by the best”
At times promises were made without fiscal reality.
For example, candidates made promises for free education, jobs, road networks, low taxes for low income earners but the reality is low IGR, insufficient allocation from federation allocations and high piled up debts in public service such as outstanding contact payments, gratuity to retired workers etc. This makes promises to fail.
Structure disappeared after victory
During campaign every wards has 50 canvabssers, WhatsApp groups, motorcades and what happens a month after election is that this structure disappear or dissolved – no more feedback loop from villagers to government offices. Government interest shifts to contractors and permanent secretaries. By the time the learned people are angry about water, healthcare facilities etc is when the next election is around the corner.
There is the need to connect campaign structure into constituency delivery units – same people, new mandate, monitor boreholes and other government projects, report on the abandoned projects and call for feedback monthly.
Candidates did not realize that traditional rulers, civil servants union, contractors and even EFCC and ICPC can veto implementation of government projects and programme.
Power is not about wining votes, it also about negotiating with the actors who can block you
When Accountability Loop is Broken
Campaigns ends on the election day – no public dashboard, no quarterly town hall meeting with electorates, no scorecards.
Voters forget promises, politicians think I have 4 years by 3 years it is not too late.
The best campaign now runs a public dashboard. For example, we promised 50 boreholes, 12 completed, 20 ongoing, 18 pending due to x reasons. This will built trust and give your early warning when things fails.
Campaigns is for performance not convenience. For example, Nigeria election is treated as a 3 months theatre production. After curtains falls, everyone goes home but government is a 4 years convenience.
In conclusion, successful campaign strategies
Before the election, publish priority projects with a budget, timeline and responsible person.
First 100 days – focus on quick wins that people can see like water in LGAs, job availability and projects of people interest.
Monthly live radio town hall. Take questions, no scripts.
2 years mid term report cards – if you miss target explain why and adjust.
The quest for power should not end at the ballot box, the real quest start the next morning when the crowd goes home and the files are in your desk.
– Benjamin Ibrahim writes from Lokoja, Kogi state.
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