ASABA: The politics of rewarding electoral support is no longer confined to campaign rhetoric; it has increasingly become a governing philosophy. Across Nigeria, many citizens believe that governments now distinguish between communities that voted for them and those that did not. The result is what many describe as the gospel of bloc votes the belief that electoral loyalty should determine access to political appointments, infrastructure and other dividends of democracy.
This perception became firmly rooted during the administration of former late President Muhammadu Buhari. His widely reported 97 per cent versus five per cent comment after the 2015 election was interpreted by many Nigerians as suggesting that regions which overwhelmingly supported his election deserved greater consideration than those that did not.
Whether or not that reflected official policy, critics argued throughout his tenure that appointments into strategic security agencies, key ministries and federal institutions disproportionately favoured certain parts of the country.
Similar concerns were raised over the distribution of major federal infrastructure projects, with many voices from the South-East maintaining that the region received comparatively less attention than others. These criticisms fuelled a sense of political alienation and reinforced the perception that electoral support had become a determining factor in governance.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also been the subject of similar public debate. Opposition parties, constitutional lawyers and civil society organisations have questioned the geographical spread of several key appointments, arguing that many strategic positions have gone to individuals from the South-West, particularly those of Yoruba origin, or from states considered strong electoral bases for the President.
Critics have also pointed to budgetary allocations and the siting of major federal projects as reflecting similar patterns, although the Federal Government has consistently maintained that appointments are based on competence, national interest and constitutional requirements.
Regardless of where one stands in this debate, the perception that governments reward political loyalty more than national balance has serious consequences. It weakens confidence in the constitutional principle of federal character, which was created to ensure that every region of Nigeria has a fair sense of belonging in the affairs of the federation.
Unfortunately, this same political culture has filtered down to state and local politics. In Delta State, and particularly in Ika politics, conversations before and after every election increasingly revolve around which ward or local government delivered the highest votes and therefore deserves the greatest political rewards. Appointments, employment opportunities, contracts and even development projects are frequently viewed through the lens of electoral performance rather than merit, competence or developmental need.
This reward-and-punishment approach has encouraged unhealthy rivalry among communities. Wards now compete not only to win elections but to prove their political usefulness in anticipation of appointments and government patronage. Communities perceived to have voted for opposition parties often fear exclusion from government opportunities, while those aligned with the ruling party expect preferential treatment. Such a system breeds resentment, political hatred and endless infighting instead of promoting unity and collective development.
Even more troubling is the effect this doctrine has on democratic competition. When politicians believe that government benefits should be reserved for loyal voting blocs, opposition parties and their candidates inevitably feel disadvantaged.
Elections cease to be genuine contests of ideas and become battles for access to government patronage. Rather than encouraging the emergence of the most competent and widely accepted leaders, the system rewards political conformity and discourages independent political choices.
This is not the democracy envisioned by Nigeria’s Constitution. Once elected, a president, governor or local government chairman becomes the leader of all citizens—not merely those who voted for the ruling party.
Public appointments, employment opportunities, infrastructure and development projects should reflect competence, fairness, constitutional balance and genuine developmental priorities not electoral calculations.
The gospel of bloc votes must therefore be rejected at every level of government. Nigeria’s unity depends on leaders who see every community as deserving of equal treatment. Delta State, like the rest of the federation, must move away from politics of reward and punishment and embrace a culture where merit, justice, equity and inclusion guide governance.
Only then can democracy produce its true dividends and ensure that the most qualified candidates, regardless of political affiliation or voting patterns, have an equal opportunity to serve the people.
