{
  "id": 19670702,
  "title": "Why politicians lie to win elections – Kukah",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/why-politicians-lie-to-win-elections-kukah-19670702",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T16:04:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/why-politicians-lie-to-win-elections-kukah/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Matthew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, has shed light on the reasons behind politicians' tendency to make unrealistic promises and mislead voters during election campaigns. According to Kukah, politicians' primary focus is to secure votes rather than prepare citizens for the challenges of governance. He explained that politicians often use attractive images and grand promises to appeal to voters, only to abandon their commitments after taking office and offer excuses for the difficulties of governance. Kukah emphasized that political communication has become a means for politicians to win votes through promises they may not be able to fulfill, urging Nigerians to develop the ability to question such claims. He highlighted a politician's use of impressive campaign images, such as tarred roads, bridges, beautiful houses, and smart-schooled children, to convince voters. However, once elected, the politician claimed that none of the promised projects had materialized. Kukah noted that this response demonstrated a common pattern in Nigeria's political system, where elected leaders make ambitious promises during campaigns but later provide excuses after taking office. He stated that politicians often prioritize creating attractive campaign narratives over communicating the realities of governance. Kukah urged Nigerians not to accept campaign messages passively and to question politicians, scrutinize their promises, and demand accountability. He stressed that citizens should move beyond ethnic, religious, and class considerations in their political choices and engage with the political elite to hold them accountable. Former INEC Chairman Prof Attahiru Jega echoed Kukah's sentiments, urging political parties and candidates to promote issue-based campaigns and responsible political messaging. Jega called on electoral and other government institutions to communicate transparently, consistently, and promptly, emphasizing the need to learn from past electoral experiences and develop practical recommendations for improving political communication and election security.",
  "summary": "The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Kukah, explains why politicians lie to win elections, stating their goal is to secure votes, not govern effectively. Read More: https://punchng.com/why-politicians-lie-to-win-elections-kukah/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}