Several reports have shown that the number of populist leaders is both increasing and decreasing around the world. In the global north, the reports indicate that the political leadership style has “fallen to a 20-year low after a series of victories for progressives and centrists over the past year,” according to analysis from the Tony Blair Institute. The Institute, as quoted by the UK newspaper The Guardian, reports that the number of people living under populist rule has fallen by 800 million in two years. Politicians like Donald Trump in the United States of America, Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, and Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines gained power through populism, an ideology, political programme or movement that champions, or claims to champion, the common person. In other words, it “promotes the idea that its leaders alone represent the people in their struggle against the elite.”
In the global south, where we have Africa, Latin America and Asia, the political movement is also on the rise. These continents had populist leaders who fought the elite and eventually were elected as presidents and prime ministers. Burundi, Cameroon, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, South Africa and other countries on the continent have had populist leaders who eventually became presidents. A populist leader who eventually became president could only have happened in Nigeria, when President Muhammadu Buhari was elected in 2015 after “public acceptance” of his rhetoric and promises of changing poor socioeconomic and political indices. Citizens and members of the international community have described his seven years as president as having both negative and positive consequences.
As his tenure draws to an end, some of his economic policies and political decisions are having severe impacts on people and businesses. As a result, there is a need to elect a populist leader. However, our analyst observes that, for the first time since the country’s return to democratic governance in 1999, voters are undecided about which of the three leading presidential candidates to support. They are in a serious dilemma because Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi have been campaigning using populism since September 28, 2022. Across mainstream news media, digital platforms, and community mobilisation strategies, the trio has used and continues to use various rhetorical appeals and ethos that align with populism. This is not a new phenomenon in the history of populist movements; Hugo Chavez famously used emotionally charged populist rhetoric to appeal to a broad base of Venezuelans from the poor and working classes.
However, when a populist leader fails to win a presidential election, their followers can be left feeling deflated and disappointed. In order to manage their mental health during such a time, it is important for followers of a populist leader to practice self-care and focus on the positives in any situation. After reviewing several sources regarding the psychological state of followers of populist leaders during electoral cycles in the global north and some countries in the global south, our analyst briefly discusses some fundamental tips for mental health management in the case of electoral loss.
Firstly, it is important for followers of the three candidates to avoid engaging in negative self-talk. It can be easy to get caught up in the disappointment and frustration of the failed election and to start thinking negatively about oneself and the situation. Instead, followers should focus on reframing these negative thoughts into something positive and productive. For example, if they are feeling down about the election result, they could think of ways that they can use this experience to better themselves and their communities.
Secondly, followers should practice self-care and self-compassion. This can be done through activities such as mindfulness, yoga, or journaling. Taking time to relax and focus on themselves can help followers reframe their thoughts in a more positive light and find contentment in their current situation.
