The voting pattern and culture seen on Multichoice's Big Brother offers insight into the Nigerian psyche and our approach to popularity contests. It allows us to examine the traits prevalent on the Nigerian political landscape and our response to them.
When elections are discussed in Nigeria, especially free and fair contests, oft-cited is the annulled 12 June 1993 general elections. Past elections marred by violence, allegations of rigging and more recently, voter trading has resulted in the distrust of the electoral process by the voting population; with voter apathy translating to low voter turnout in the 2019, 2015 and 2011 elections.
This is where the Big Brother show differs from the Nigerian voting experience. Successive seasons have seen Nigerians not only vote, but pay to do so.
While there are arguments about potential voter fatigue during campaign season, millions of Nigerians consistently vote for their favourite housemates. These contestants are often up for eviction weekly, with fans voting to keep them in the running for a cash prize...
Every year, The Republic publishes the most ambitious writing focused on Africa, from news and analysis to long-form features.
To continue reading this article, Subscribe or Register for a Free Pass.
Already a subscriber? Log in.