The US, European and other governments on Thursday called on Nigeria to ensure a peaceful presidential election this weekend as fighting broke out in the main city on the final day of campaigning.
More than 93 million Nigerians are registered to vote on Saturday in a tense and competitive race between three presidential candidates for the first time since military rule ended in 1999.
After two terms under President Muhammadu Buhari, who resigned, Africa’s most populous country is grappling with widespread insecurity from various armed groups, high inflation and growing poverty.
Thursday is the last day of campaigning for the presidential, senate and parliamentary elections.
“It is important for Nigeria’s stability and democratic consolidation that the process is carried out and completed safely, fairly and reliably,” said a joint statement from the diplomatic missions of the United States, Britain, Australia, Japan, Canada and Norway.
“We encourage all actors to proactively intervene to reduce tensions and avoid violence.”
Nigeria’s elections have been marked by violence, ethnic tensions, vote buying and clashes between supporters of rival parties.
Clashes broke out in the northwestern city of Kano on Thursday when mobs attacked supporters of Rabiu Kwankwaso, the former Kano governor and presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
A car of NNPP supporters was burnt and several were injured when they were attacked by a mob wielding machetes and clubs, NNPP members said.
Kano State, with the second largest number of voters after Lagos with almost 6 million, is a contested region.
Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the violence.
‘Safe, peaceful and peaceful’
On Wednesday, a Labor Party senatorial candidate and one of his team were killed when gunmen attacked and set fire to their vehicle in the south-eastern part of Enugu State, police said.
The four main candidates in the presidential race signed a peace agreement on Wednesday, to ensure free and peaceful elections.
“Let me remind all Nigerians not for the first time that this is the only country we have, and we must do everything to stay safe, united and peaceful,” Buhari said at the event.
Polling stations open at 0730 GMT on Saturday and close at 1330 GMT. Election officials are expected to start releasing results from Sunday.
To win the presidency, a candidate must secure the most votes but also win 25 percent in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states. If no candidate wins, a run-off will be held between two candidates.
The rule describes the government of a country almost equally divided between the Muslim-majority north and the Christian-majority south and with three main ethnic groups: the Yoruba in the southwest, the Hausa in the north and the Igbo in the southeast.
Jihadis, bandits
Nigeria’s security challenges are many. An overstretched army is still fighting a 14-year jihadist insurgency in the northeast and trying to contain bandits who raid villages and carry out mass kidnappings for ransom in the northwest.
The offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission have been attacked, with violence often blamed on separatists in the southeast.
Three frontrunners are vying to succeed Buhari, who was first elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 mainly on promises to fight insecurity and corruption.
A survey by the pan-African group Afrobarometer showed nine out of 10 Nigerians believe their country is headed in the wrong direction, with security and the economy their main concern.
On Saturday, Bola Tinubu, 70, candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos, faced his old rival and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, 76, of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Both have denied corruption allegations and have long been a fixture in Nigerian politics.
But for the first time a surprise third candidate, Peter Obi from the Labor Party, has appeared to challenge the dominance of PDP and APC with a message for young voters who will bring change.
Critics question whether Obi has the party structure or broad national appeal to win the presidency.
Days before the election, the national cash shortage also angered Nigerians, as they struggled to buy food at the market and pay for transport to work. Many people in the informal economy depend heavily on cash.
The central bank has since replaced old naira currency bills with redesigned ones, in what officials say is a move to curb corruption and inflation.
But the lack of new notes has led to long lines at banks, violent protests in some cities and tension in the APC over how the move could affect its candidates at the ballot box.