Long queues have formed at polling stations in Nigeria as millions cast their ballots in the most competitive presidential election since the end of military rule.
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 – Peter Obi’s Labor Party, which is supported by many young people.
President Muhammadu Buhari resigned after two four-year terms.
His All Progressives Congress (APC) was represented by former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, while former Vice President Atiku Abubakar stood for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The number of presidential candidates is 18. Parliamentary elections are also held.
Excited people were seen as the three main candidates voted.
There was a lot of enthusiasm among voters, but some polling stations failed to open, hours before voting was due to end.
“No Mr [Independent National Electoral Commission] officials have been coming since morning. I have to vote and it has to be counted,” said Whitney Eziechina, a voter in the main city, Lagos.
Electoral officials and voting materials were delayed at several other polling stations, including where Mr. Tinubu cast his vote.
Voting machines malfunctioned in some areas, with voters told to return later.
There were also reports of violence and the seizure of ballot boxes in Lagos, an APC stronghold.
The lead-up to the poll has been overshadowed by the lack of cash caused by a botched attempt to redesign the currency, leading to widespread chaos in banks and cash machines as people are desperate to find access to money.
New notes were introduced to deal with inflation, and also to buy votes. On the night of the House of Representatives election, he was seized with almost $500,000 (£419,000) in cash, and a list of people to whom he was due, police said.
Whoever wins will have to deal with a currency redesign, a collapsing economy, high youth unemployment, and widespread insecurity that left 10,000 people dead last year.
The senatorial election in the south-eastern Enugu East constituency was postponed after an opposition candidate was killed on Wednesday by suspected gunmen from the separatist group, Ipob.
The election has attracted first-time voters and young people – a third of the 87 million eligible voters are under 35 – which could lead to a higher turnout than the 35% recorded in 2019.
“It is my responsibility and I have seen the importance of voting,” said Blessing Ememumodak, 19, a first-time voter at the BBC in Lagos.
Mr Obi, 61, had hoped to break Nigeria’s two-party system after joining the Labor Party last May.
Although he was in the PDP before, he is seen as a relatively fresh face and enjoys strong support in some sections of the Nigerian youth, especially in the south.
The wealthy businessman was the governor of south-eastern Anambra State from 2006 to 2014. His supporters, known as “OBIDients”, say he is the only candidate with integrity, but critics argue that the vote for Obi was wasted because they. impossible to win.
Who is Peter Obi?
However, the PDP, which ruled until 2015, wants Nigerians to vote for Atiku Abubakar, 76 – the only major candidate from the country’s predominantly Muslim north.
He has run for president five times – he has lost all of them. He has been arrested on charges of corruption and cronyism, which he denies.
Most of his career has been spent in the corridors of power, working as a civil servant, vice president and prominent businessman.
Who is Atiku Abubakar?
Most people see the election as a referendum on the APC, which has overseen a period of economic hardship and insecurity.
The candidate, Tinubu, 70, is credited with building Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos, during his two terms as governor until 2007.
He is known as the godfather of politics in the south-west region, where he wields great influence, but like Mr Abubakar, has also been dogged by allegations of corruption over the years and poor health, both of which he denies.
Who is Bola Tinubu?
Elections were also held for 109 federal senators and 360 members of the house of representatives, with another vote for state governor in March.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has promised free and fair elections, and dismissed talk of a postponement because of insecurity in parts of the country and a lack of cash that it fears could affect its preparations.
This is the first time that Inec will conduct national elections using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a facial and fingerprint technology that is expected to increase transparency by making it harder for politicians to rig the process.
The final results have been announced on the third day after voting in the last two elections, but may come earlier thanks to BVAS, which also uploads voting results directly to the Inec website directly from polling stations.
A candidate must have the most votes and 25% of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to be declared the winner.
If no one gets it, there will be a run-off in 21 days – a first in Nigeria’s history.
Source: BBC
| Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not reflect Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no legal or other responsibility for the accuracy of the content. Please report inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a priority. |
Featured Videos