Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has criticised the culture of unrealistic promises made by political candidates during election campaigns, warning that such pledges contribute significantly to Nigeria’s governance challenges.

Sani made the remarks while reflecting on the conduct of political campaigns and the responsibility of the media to scrutinise promises made by presidential candidates seeking the support of Nigerians.

According to the governor, it is possible for presidential candidates to appear on television or radio programmes, make ambitious promises to millions of Nigerians, and leave without being properly questioned about how they intend to fulfil those commitments.

“A lot of presidential candidates will walk into your studio and some other studios one day and promise every Nigerian ₦10 million, and walk away without you asking them how?” Sani said.

He questioned the tendency of political discourse to focus heavily on what candidates promise to deliver while paying less attention to the practicality, funding and implementation of such proposals.

The governor suggested that political candidates should be required to explain the sources of funding and realistic mechanisms behind their campaign promises rather than simply making attractive pledges to win public support.

Sani’s comments have also drawn attention to the role of journalists and media organisations in holding political actors accountable. He argued that the media has a responsibility to move beyond merely giving politicians platforms and instead subject their claims to rigorous questioning.

The governor’s position highlights a broader concern about Nigeria’s political culture, where ambitious campaign promises can sometimes generate high expectations among voters without adequate discussion of how such promises would be financed or implemented.

For Sani, demanding clear answers from politicians could help voters make more informed decisions and encourage greater accountability in the country’s political system.

He maintained that failure to scrutinise such promises allows unrealistic commitments to gain public acceptance, ultimately contributing to disappointment and distrust in government.

The governor’s remarks therefore place responsibility not only on politicians to make realistic promises but also on the media and electorate to demand evidence, explanations and workable plans before accepting campaign pledges.