IN ONE HOUR: How President Buhari’s popularity soared in 14 states ahead of Rabiu Kwankwaso amidst declaration for presidency

Despite Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s declaration for presidency in Abuja few hours ago, Infoprations’ Trending Analysis has shown that Nigerians and nationals of other countries’ interest in President Muhammadu Buhari was high than the interest they had in the former Governor.

Analysis shows that President Buhari’s popularity volume was 2,403 while Senator Kwankwaso had 1,782. President Buhari was mostly searched from Ogun, Edo, Oyo, Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Anambra, Osun, Borno, Bayelsa, Enugu, Abia, Adamawa and Ebonyi. Senator Kwankwaso, who was Kano Governor when President Muhammadu Buhari secured his largest votes in Kano State in the 2015, was predominantly searched from Kano, Cross River, Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau and Akwa Ibom.

To understand reasons that enhanced people’s interest in the two politicians from the dominant states, Infoprations did background check on the other trending national issues especially politics. The check reveals that the popularity of President Buhari in Delta and Rivers States was as a result of recent dumping of the People’s Democratic Party by Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, former Governor of Delta State. Dr Uduaghan announced his exit from the main opposition party few hours ago. 

President Buhari’s popularity in Rivers State could be understood within the recent bye-election cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission, citing various irregularities that characterised the election. The popularity could also be discerned from the ongoing tug of words between the Economic and Financial Crime Commission and the state Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike over the anti-graft agency’s intent of probing some financial activities of the state government.