Nigerians will cast their votes Saturday to determine who will govern
Africa’s most populous nation. Polls suggest the 2015 presidential
election will be the tightest race in Nigeria’s history. Whoever wins
must take on a slew of issues, including a tanked economy, intensified
attacks in the northeast by the Boko Haram militant group, and security
concerns in the oil-producing south. Below is our guide to what you need
to know ahead of the March 28 presidential election.
THE CANDIDATES: There are 14 presidential candidates on the ballot,
but national polls have shown the race will come down to two players:
the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, and his primary challenger,
Muhammadu Buhari. Jonathan,
57, is running for reelection and this race is essentially a rematch
against Buhari. He beat Buhari in a landslide victory in the last
election in 2011.
But Jonathan's popularity has plunged in recent years amid concerns
over national security and government corruption. Jonathan is a southern
Christian from the petroleum-rich Niger Delta region and a member of
the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PCP), a conservative party that
generally leans toward the center-right. Jonathan has faced criticism
for alleged corruption and failing to end the Boko Haram insurgency. The
incumbent has pledged to address both issues if reelected a second term.
Buhari, 72, is a former military dictator and a member of the All Progressives Congress, an opposition party formed to take on the PCP that is pushing for shared power between central and state governments. This will be Buhari’s fourth time running for president, after running unsuccessfully in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Buhari is a northern Muslim from Katsina state. He last held public office in the late 1970s as the chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the federal commissioner -- now called "minister" -- for petroleum and natural resources. Buhari took power in a military coup from 1983 to 1985, after overthrowing a democratically elected government. If elected, he has pledged to crack down on government corruption and reinforce Nigerian security forces.
KEY ISSUES IN THE ELECTION: Security, corruption and the economy are the crucial issues in Saturday's election. Boko Haram began its violent uprising in Nigeria in 2009, and the terror group now controls a vast swath of the country's northeast. The Islamist militants have spread their brutal attacks into neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger since February. Tens of thousands of people have died at the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, and one million others have fled their homes. Nigerians will cast their vote in part on who will make them feel safe.
Corruption is out of control in Nigeria. Nigeria generates some $70 billion in state revenue per year, and whoever wins the presidency will have a critical say in dispensing these funds. Under Jonathan's administration, over 70 percent of the federal budget is spent on public officials' salaries and benefits. Rural areas desperately need funding to improve education, health, transportation and commercial development.
Nigeria has recently become Africa's largest economy. The country relies heavily on the oil sector, with more than two-thirds of state revenue coming from gas and oil exports. But global oil prices have dropped more than 50 percent in recent months, choking Nigeria's currency. The country needs major reforms to diversify its sources of revenue beyond the oil sector. Neither candidate appears to have a clear plan for tackling Nigeria's looming economic crisis.
VOTER SECURITY: Nigerian officials have beefed up security measures ahead of Saturday's general elections. Authorities announced Thursday the closure of all Nigeria's land and sea borders until after the election. The closure took effect midnight Wednesday and will hold through midnight on Saturday. Abubakar Magaji, permanent secretary in Nigeria's interior ministry, said the closure of borders was "to allow for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming national elections," Al Jazeera reported.
Vehicular movement will also be restricted in Nigeria on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and police officers will be meticulous in ensuring security during the general elections, according to Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
"The IGP wishes to reassure the public of the commitment of the Force to the provision of round-the-clock security before, during and after the general elections for the teeming citizens of the country," Abba said in a statement, according to the Daily Independent newspaper in Lagos.
Buhari, 72, is a former military dictator and a member of the All Progressives Congress, an opposition party formed to take on the PCP that is pushing for shared power between central and state governments. This will be Buhari’s fourth time running for president, after running unsuccessfully in 2003, 2007 and 2011. Buhari is a northern Muslim from Katsina state. He last held public office in the late 1970s as the chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the federal commissioner -- now called "minister" -- for petroleum and natural resources. Buhari took power in a military coup from 1983 to 1985, after overthrowing a democratically elected government. If elected, he has pledged to crack down on government corruption and reinforce Nigerian security forces.
KEY ISSUES IN THE ELECTION: Security, corruption and the economy are the crucial issues in Saturday's election. Boko Haram began its violent uprising in Nigeria in 2009, and the terror group now controls a vast swath of the country's northeast. The Islamist militants have spread their brutal attacks into neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger since February. Tens of thousands of people have died at the hands of Boko Haram insurgents, and one million others have fled their homes. Nigerians will cast their vote in part on who will make them feel safe.
Corruption is out of control in Nigeria. Nigeria generates some $70 billion in state revenue per year, and whoever wins the presidency will have a critical say in dispensing these funds. Under Jonathan's administration, over 70 percent of the federal budget is spent on public officials' salaries and benefits. Rural areas desperately need funding to improve education, health, transportation and commercial development.
Nigeria has recently become Africa's largest economy. The country relies heavily on the oil sector, with more than two-thirds of state revenue coming from gas and oil exports. But global oil prices have dropped more than 50 percent in recent months, choking Nigeria's currency. The country needs major reforms to diversify its sources of revenue beyond the oil sector. Neither candidate appears to have a clear plan for tackling Nigeria's looming economic crisis.
VOTER SECURITY: Nigerian officials have beefed up security measures ahead of Saturday's general elections. Authorities announced Thursday the closure of all Nigeria's land and sea borders until after the election. The closure took effect midnight Wednesday and will hold through midnight on Saturday. Abubakar Magaji, permanent secretary in Nigeria's interior ministry, said the closure of borders was "to allow for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming national elections," Al Jazeera reported.
Vehicular movement will also be restricted in Nigeria on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and police officers will be meticulous in ensuring security during the general elections, according to Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba.
"The IGP wishes to reassure the public of the commitment of the Force to the provision of round-the-clock security before, during and after the general elections for the teeming citizens of the country," Abba said in a statement, according to the Daily Independent newspaper in Lagos.
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