This weekend, over 90 million Nigerians may head to the polls in an election that’s not for the faint hearted. The one thing that has stood out for me as a journalist who has covered elections in Nigeria for over 20 years is the violence – and fear of violence – that usually surrounds them.

This year is no different. Rising incidents of violence aimed at the electoral commission’s properties and officials, especially in the south-east region of the country, are already a cause for concern. This could pose a serious threat to the election, along with the dangers of using religion as a campaign tool. In my experience, another issue that has blighted Nigeria’s elections over the last 24 years is vote buying.

Aside from the fear factor, Nigeria’s general election – the largest in Africa – requires immense logistical organisation. The figures are astounding: more than 170,000 polling stations and over 1.2 million trained electoral officials.

The 2023 presidential election is being contested by 18 political parties, but it currently looks like a three-horse race. The candidates whose prospects look particularly promising are: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. And there are thousands of candidates vying for Nigeria’s National Assembly. To help voters navigate through the electoral maze, we’re sharing a new tool that has been developed.

One can only hope that with tools like this, Nigerians can easily identify their polling units and their candidates of choice, rise above the fear of insecurity and go out in their numbers to vote on 25 February.

Adejuwon Soyinka

Regional Editor West Africa

How to poll 93 million voters – the challenge of pulling off Nigeria’s presidential elections

Emmanuel Remi Aiyede, University of Ibadan

Logistical challenges facing the 2023 elections remain huge given the number of political parties, the security environment and the number of contestants at various levels.

Nigerian elections are crowded with candidates: use this new tool to decide who to vote for in your area

Hakeem Onapajo, Nile University of Nigeria

A digital tool to help citizens know the candidates better has been developed for Nigeria’s 2023 elections.

Bola Tinubu: Nigeria’s kingmaker who wants to be king

Olayinka Oyegbile, Trinity University, Lagos

As Bola Ahmed Tinubu contests the 2023 presidential election, the question remains can the kingmaker proclaim himself the King?

Atiku Abubakar: Nigeria’s perennial presidential candidate is back on the stump

Hakeem Onapajo, Nile University of Nigeria

There are hurdles in the way of Nigeria’s major opposition party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

Peter Obi could be the force that topples Nigeria’s two main political parties

Kester Onor, Covenant University

Peter Obi is leading a ‘third force’ that might spring surprises in Nigeria’s presidential election.

There’s violence every election season in Nigeria: what can be done to stop it

Samuel Oyewole, Federal University, Oye Ekiti

All actors in the electoral processes in Nigeria must work together to ensure peaceful elections.

Election violence in Nigeria’s south east is threatening to derail voting in the region

Oluwole Ojewale, Institute for Security Studies; Freedom C. Onuoha, University of Nigeria

Attacks on electoral materials and election commission officials in the south-east region of Nigeria could have serious implications for the overall success of 2023 presidential election.

Nigeria’s election: six dangers of mixing religion with politics

Adeyemi Balogun, Osun State University

Damage to the fragile Nigerian state is one possible fallout of mixing religion with politics.

Votes for cash: the significance of vote buying in Nigeria’s democracy

Al Chukwuma Okoli, Federal University Lafia

Vote buying compromises the quality of public leadership in Nigeria.

 

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