The Justice and Democracy for Development (JD4D) organization predicts that incumbent Governor Hope Uzodimma would win 17 of the state's 27 local councils as the November 11 Imo state governorship election approaches.
In an Abuja report, the pro-democracy group stated that their research was based on in-depth interviews conducted across the state's 27 local councils as well as a random sample.
Seventy percent of respondents chose the governor, who is seeking a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to the sampling results.
Part of the article said, "The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came third with 13 percent, while the Labour Party (LP) is trailing the APC with 18 percent chances."
Three percent of the participants indicated they had not made up their mind. One percent of respondents stated they would not disclose their choice, while two percent said they would not vote.
The APC is more likely to be chosen over its two nearest rivals by middle-aged and elderly people of both sexes, according to respondents who are primarily from metropolitan regions. Of the 27 LGAs, opinions are stronger in 17 LGAs for the APC, 6 LGAs for the Labour Party, and 4 LGAs for the PDP.
Along with polling higher among eligible voters, the results revealed that the APC is expected to win the election ahead of the Labour Party (24 percent), PDP (12 percent), and the majority of respondents (at 70%).
"The majority of respondents thought the APC would win the election in 17 out of the 27 local governments, while the majority thought the PDP would win in 3 and the Labour Party would win in 7, respectively."
According to the article, the political parties involved in the election are putting a lot of effort into outperforming one another in order to win over hesitant voters.
"People have been reached by political parties in a variety of methods to solicit their support. Giving food and beverages to rally attendees (51%), requesting support for a candidate on social media (47%), and making door-to-door visits (41%), are a few of the methods. It is observed that APC is more involved than other parties or candidates in reaching out to people using these techniques.
"The following are the most common actions that respondents who had supported gubernatorial candidates of their choice had engaged in: urged friends and family to back a candidate or party (74%), joined a party (56%), and took part in a demonstration (47%). The APC (26%) and LP (20%) are the two main parties that appear to be receiving more support from friends and family for their candidates or parties.
According to the poll findings, citizens feel confident in the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) readiness for the general election and the environment around it.
"In general, 50% of respondents thought INEC was ready for the next elections. While 28% said INEC was extremely prepared, 22% thought they were only marginally prepared
According to the survey, there is a real fear of violence among voters, which might significantly lower turnout for the election.
Sixty-four percent of respondents believed that the likelihood of violence or disruption will/may prevent them from casting a ballot in the upcoming gubernatorial election. Nearly three-fifths (57%) concurred that there will be more violence in their communities as a result of the next gubernatorial election.
While the majority of respondents condemned voter manipulation, the report also revealed that most of them approved of the sharing of food, beverages, souvenirs, and even cash.
Roughly 72% of respondents said that they would disclose electoral bribery because it is the morally correct thing to do. Nonetheless, 70% of respondents said that since nothing meaningful will be done to stop electoral bribery, there is little purpose in reporting it. The majority (63%) concurred that taxpayers must pay taxes to all governments, regardless of how well they operate. While the majority (72%) agreed that Imo State is divided between the common people and the corrupt elites who take advantage of them, more than half (51%) disagreed that voting is pointless since all politicians are corrupt.
According to the study, INEC was tasked with ensuring that free and fair elections be held in order to represent the will of the people.