Nigeria Election 2023: Millions Vote In Tightest-Ever Poll

Nigeria Election 2023: Millions Vote In Tightest-Ever Poll

 

 

Millions of Nigerians are due to vote in the most competitive presidential election since military rule ended. Since 1999, Africa’s most populous country has been dominated by two parties, the ruling APC and the PDP. But this time, there is also a strong challenge from a third-party candidate the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who is backed by many young people.

 

 

Current President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping aside after serving two four-year terms. His All Progressives Congress (APC) is represented by former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is standing for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

 

There are a total of 18 presidential candidates. The lead-up to the polls has been overshadowed by a cash shortage caused by a botched attempt to redesign the currency, leading to widespread chaos at banks and cash machines as desperate people sought access to their money. The new notes were introduced in order to tackle inflation, and also vote-buying.

 

 

On the eve of the election a member of the House of Representatives was arrested with almost $500,000 (£419,000) in cash, and a list of people he was supposed to give it to, police say. Whoever wins will have to deal with the currency redesign, a crumbling economy, high youth unemployment, and widespread insecurity which saw 10,000 killed last year.

 

 

After the killing of a senatorial candidate on Wednesday by suspected gunmen from the separatist group, Ipob, the parliamentary election was postponed in the south-eastern Enugu East constituency. The election has seen a huge interest from first-time voters and young people – a third of the 87 million eligible voters are below 35 which may lead to a high voter turn-out than the 35% recorded in 2019.

 

 

The wealthy businessman served as governor of the south-eastern Anambra State from 2006 to 2014. His backers, known as the “OBIdients” say he is the only candidate with integrity, but his critics argue that a vote for Obi is wasted as he is unlikely to win. Instead, the PDP, which ruled until 2015, wants Nigerians to vote for Atiku Abubakar, 76 the only major candidate from the country’s mainly Muslim north.

 

 

He has run for the presidency five times before, all of which he has lost. He has been dogged by accusations of corruption and cronyism, which he denies. Most of his career has been spent in the corridors of power, having worked as a top civil servant, vice-president and a prominent businessman.

 

 

Most people consider the election a referendum on the APC, which has overseen a period of economic hardship and worsening insecurity. Its candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 70, is credited with building Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos, during his two terms as governor until 2007.