More than 87 million people have been able to vote in Africa’s largest democracy – but the security situation is challenging in many parts of the country.
The presidential election in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, was heavily postponed on Saturday due to the tense security situation in several parts of the country. Hours after the polls officially closed at 2:30 pm, thousands of voters across the country were still lining up to vote. Nigeria’s electoral authority, INEC, announced that several polling stations would also be open on Sunday morning, contrary to what had been planned.
Counts have already been made elsewhere. The first results should be released this Sunday afternoon. More than 87 million of an estimated 220 million residents have registered to vote and have withdrawn their authorization cards – a record. In addition to the president of Africa’s largest economy, more than 400 seats in two chambers of parliament will also be elected.
Uncertainty in many regions
The weeks leading up to the election were overshadowed by security concerns. Armed militias are active in the north of the country, including jihadist terrorist groups such as Boko Haram. In the northwest and center of the country, criminal gangs and bloody conflicts over land are causing insecurity, while in the southeast it is violent separatists. Also, cash shortage and fuel crisis are causing problems for people.
Saturday’s vote was accompanied by isolated incidents of violence in different parts of the country. According to the election commission, gunmen attacked polling stations in three states to steal biometric voter identification devices. In parts of the states of Borno and Niger, elections were postponed after attacks by jihadists, admitted the president of the electoral authority. Armed men also attacked several polling stations in the economic metropolis of Lagos and stole election documents, for which the military was mobilized.
18 candidates, three have chances
President Muhammadu Buhari (80) is stepping down after two terms. For the first time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, a third party has a good chance alongside candidates from the two dominant parties. Candidates’ origin and religious affiliation plays an important role in Nigeria. Among the 18 candidates, the most promising candidates are former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu (70) of the ruling APC party, and former vice-president Atiku Abubakar (76) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who is running for sixth time. Peter Obi (61) from the Labor Party is particularly popular in big cities and among young people. For the first time, a runoff for the presidency looks likely.
To win the election, the candidate must obtain the most votes in the state and at least a quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 states. If no one reaches that target, there will be a runoff three weeks later.
(APA/dpa)