According to a recent Datafolha poll conducted from March 3 to 5, 2023, with 2,004 voters across 137 municipalities, 71% believe that the tribute to President Lula by the samba school Acadêmicos de Niterói is inappropriate in an electoral year. While 25% of respondents found the tribute acceptable, 4% did not have an opinion. The survey's margin of error is 2 percentage points, providing a 95% confidence level, and the findings have been registered with Brazil's Superior Electoral Court.

The survey indicates a stark divide in opinions based on political affiliation; among voters who supported Jair Bolsonaro in the last presidential election, an overwhelming 94% viewed the tribute as unsuitable, while only 4% saw it as appropriate. This highlights the polarization in Brazilian politics, particularly in the lead-up to an election, where sentiments and perspectives are often deeply influenced by party loyalties.

Interestingly, the tribute was also deemed inappropriate by a significant 49% of those who had previously voted for Lula himself, suggesting a broader concern within the electorate regarding the appropriateness of political celebrations in a context that could be seen as leveraging cultural events for electoral gain. As Brazil heads towards the next elections, this sentiment may influence campaign dynamics and voter expectations regarding political decorum and cultural expression.