2019 Presidency: People's Trust Olawepo-Hashim overtakes Atiku, Buhari on social media

The weekly Facebook rating of presidential candidates in Nigeria has delivered a major upset as Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim of People's Trust has overtaken Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party.

In the data released this afternoon in Abuja ,Olawepo-Hashim  recorded Facebook engagement of 28,000+ while Abubakar had 24,000+.The engagement data for Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress stands at 16,000+.

Kingsley Moghalu and Fela Durotoye were trailing far below with single digit ratings.

Last week data showed the PT's candidate overtaken President Muhammadu Buhari.Abubakar was trailing President Buhari last week but has surged over the President in this week's data.

Over the last three weeks,the PT's candidate had moved from third position to second and now to first based on engagement figures generated from the direct campaign handles of the three candidates.

Data analysts involved in the polling project posited that the data on each of the candidates are realistic because Facebook represents the broad spectrum of voters who will vote in the Febraury polls.

According to them,increasing engagement implies voters' growing interest in the candidate while a decreasing result reflects voters disenchantment. A static return means a candidate at a  cross roads in the campaign.

The analysts noted in their report that  Olawepo's growing engagement  rating is a measure of voters' interest in him as a third force alternative.

"He is no longer part of the park of third party candidates.He has moved ahead to emerge as a real alternative to both Buhari and Atiku.This is a game changer from data perspective",Segun Seriki,the lead analyst for the project, said.

According to him, "the latest data points to a major upset within the struggle for Nigerian presidency.We are making the report available to all the major candidates.

"Our latest data reflects a  major upset in the battle for the Presidency.It is no longer a two way horse race.There is now a third force that is overtaking the old alternatives.We are still following the data but for now ,Olawepo Hashim has pulled the impossible to overtake both Abubakar and Buhari",Seriki said.