How to Become a Politician in Nigeria: 10 Steps

How to Become a Politician in Nigeria: 10 Steps brings to your perusal the necessary step to step…

How to Become a Politician in Nigeria: 10 Steps brings to your perusal the necessary step to step guide on how to become a Politician.

How to Be a Politician in Nigeria

How to Become a Politician in Nigeria: 10 Steps
How to Be a Politician in Nigeria – Photo Source: http://www.lolosthoughts.com

How to Become a Good Politician in Nigeria: 10 Steps:

  1. Obtain a political franchise
  2. Join a Political Party
  3. Identify with your Ward
  4. Get a political mentor
  5. Volunteer for Party Activities
  6. Be Politically Informed
  7. Be involved in community development
  8. Build a reputation
  9. Starting small answers the question of how to become a Politician in Nigeria
  10. Develop your communication skill

In recent times, there has been widespread dissatisfaction with governance in Nigeria. Many complain that most leaders are incompetent. Well, complaints have never solved a problem, the action does.

Read Also: Politics in Nigeria; Problems and Solutions

You can take a leap into the governance process in Nigeria and implement your lofty ideas for the good of all.

Who is a politician? A politician is one who engages in politics as an elected or appointed official of the government. A politician can be involved in governance as a career.

Read Also: Positive and Negative Impacts of Nigerian Democracy

How to Become a Good Politician in Nigeria: 10 Steps:

1. Obtain a political franchise

You must be a member of the Nigerian electorate to become a politician. To achieve this, register as a legible voter.

Political registration in Nigeria is conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. At registration, your bio-data will be obtained and stored in the national electoral database.

You will be given a voter’s card. It is advisable that you register in your ward of origin. This is because the current electioneering system in Nigeria does not allow voting outside one’s voter registration unit.

2. Join a Political Party

Nigerian democracy allows political participation through political parties. There are many political parties in Nigeria, but only a few of them are popular.

Before signing up with a political party, you should consider the party’s constitution and manifesto. You should also be concerned about the reputation of the party members and leaders. Does such a party win elections? Does it have internal democracy? Will you thrive at the party?

3. Identify with your Ward

In Nigerian politics, the ward is the smallest unit of governance. You must identify your ward and get known in your ward.

Political parties also have ward leadership. You will have to be registered in a political party at the ward level. You also need to be actively involved in your ward politics.

The governing head of a political ward in Nigeria is the councilor. A councilor is a member of the local legislative council. The ward must not necessarily be your town of origin. Get involved in grass-roots politics.

Read Also: Problems of Leadership in Nigeria and Possible Solutions

4. Get a political mentor 

In Nigerian politics, success is more about who you know than what you know. Godfatherism is the thing of the day.

A godfather, being more experienced in politics than you are in the best position to guide the direction of your political career. He recommends you to the political leaders and advises you on what steps to take.

In choosing a political godfather, be sure he is reputable and respectable. Beyond your chosen political mentor, respect other party and constituency leaders. You might need them in the course of your political career.

5. Volunteer for Party Activities

Political parties usually have one event or another. Most times political parties do not pay members to carry out these activities.

To move your career faster and hasten your political maturity, volunteer for these political events. This exposes you to and gets you acquainted with political protocols.

The leaders in your party see more of you through such moves. If you are recognized for always being involved, sooner than later, you will be given a big responsibility that will catapult you to a higher pedestal. You will always get positive recommendations.

6. Be Politically Informed

Do not be politically unaware and illiterate. Stay informed. Ask questions. Listen to the news. Read local and national newspapers. With this, others will always respect you whenever you stand up at meetings to make contributions.

You also get positively noted. Know however that you do not have to share every piece of information you have about your party. Learn when to flex your vocal muscles and when to shut up.

Read Also: 12 Striking Differences between Governance and Rulership

7. Be involved in community development

If you are nursing the dreams of occupying a political office on behalf of your constituency, you need to show your concern for their welfare, even before you get elected.

Network with landlords and residents. Show loyalty to pressure groups. Identify with tribal unions. Let your immediate constituency know you. Contribute to the development of your community. Draw government attention to the plight of your community.

8. Build a reputation

In your political career, you need as much goodwill as possible. This makes it mandatory for you to build a good reputation. Let your people know you for good. Be disciplined and responsible. Be known as the man or woman who gets things done.

9. Starting small answers the question of how to become a Politician in Nigeria  

Build your political career from humble beginnings. If you are not inheriting political loyalty from your father, you have to build yours.

No office is too small to be contested for. When you successfully run a lower political race, you get recognized.

As time goes on, you will become a force to reckon with.  Do not just wake up without a political history to contest a very high office like the senate. You might lose.

Read Also: A Complete And Chronological History of Nigeria

10. Develop your communication skill 

A good Nigerian politician must be a good communicator. It is very important. Learn how to sell your ideas to your party and then to your constituency members. Be good at rhetoric and diplomacy.

The political field in Nigeria is very green and promising. Do not be left out. With the outlined steps, you can become a politician in Nigeria.

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