‘Promise Meter’ Youths launch tech platform to monitor politicians’ manifesto pledges

AdvoKC, a youth-led civic tech initiative, has built a digital platform that will allow individuals to hold elected government representatives responsible after elections for campaign pledges.

The ‘Promise Meter’ digital platform was created to bridge the gap between government officials and the electorate in terms of successful service delivery.

After months of beta testing, the platform was officially launched on Saturday.

The organisation claimed in a statement released following the launch that the ‘Promise Meter’ will allow people who voted for a candidate based on their needs to track campaign pledges.

AdvocKC added that the aim of the organisation was to ensure a successful rate in the fulfilment of campaign promises among political office holders.

The statement read in part, “In Nigeria, voters are inspired to work for the candidate or political party whose campaign promises agree with their social, economic, and political needs. But are always disappointed when these promises are not kept.”

According to Habib Sheidu, the group’s Co-Founder/Research Lead, the digital platform uses technology to express political promises made during political campaigns using its Data-Driven promise meters.

He said it uses different ratings such as “In the Works,” “Compromise,” “Stalled,” “Promise Kept” and “Promise Broken”, adding that the Promise Meter will show ratings for citizens to make informed decisions during elections.

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AdvoKC’s Co-Founder/Team Lead, Abiola Durodola, also stated that the model is not only focused on addressing transparency and accountability but also citizens engagement and participation in Nigeria as politicians use promises as a political strategy to garner votes during campaigns.

He went on to say that one of the group’s main goals is to confront the issue of Nigerian political elites exploiting poverty and illiteracy to rally supporters with food and money while failing to deliver on their promises every election cycle.

Citizens can also use other tools such as Submit a Promise, Promise Reminder, Factcheck, and Climate AdvocKC in addition to the ‘Promise Meter,’ according to the group.

The group has also named Serah Makka-Ugbabe, the Executive Director of the ONE Campaign, as the Chairman of its Advisory Board, according to the announcement.

Other appointees to AdvoKC’s Advisory Board are Communication and Knowledge Management Specialist at World Bank, Dayo Ibitoye; the Executive Director, Africa Policy Research Institute, Olumide Abimbola; Executive Director, CTA, Faith Nwadishi, and a doctoral student at London School of Economics, Aliyu Nuhu.

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