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Africa's largest democracy goes to the polls on Saturday to decide on Nigeria's next leader. A total of 93.4 million registered voters are expected to cast their votes over the weekend. Eighteen Nigerians are aspiring to lead Africa's most populous country with only four of the total number of presidential candidates heading to election day with the highest probability of being voted into power.
The oil-rich country has been experiencing serious economic turmoil with a declining buying power and depreciating currency. The Naira has multiple exchange rates to the United States dollar with the black market rate almost double the official one. Nigerians go to the polls with a lot of worries tied around their necks. Cash and fuel shortages, corruption, violence and crime as well as, political and economic marginalisation are some of the many issues that the new president will be expected to address in his first 100-days.
Outgoing president, Muhamadu Buhari leaves office without fulfilling his 2015 promises. General Buhari promised to tackle Boko Haram in the north-eastern region of the country but his attempts have hardly been successful. The terrorist group continues to wreak havoc, kidnapping and disrupting young girls. The incoming president and government should reform the security policies of Nigeria with particular attention directed to curbing the rise of violence and instability.
The Niger delta is experiencing a massive decline of crude oil production largely due to theft and corruption. Domestic and foreign investors will be hoping for the entry of a more business-friendly administration to reduce bureaucracy in Nigeria.
Majority of Nigerians going to cast their votes over the weekend are youths. Young people in Nigeria want to see genuine change and transformation especially after their seven-month Twitter ban and an eight-month industrial strike at public universities. They have a lot to prove and defend. Young Nigerians are expected to take advantage of their right to vote as an opportunity to also speak on behalf of more than a dozen of protesters who were killed by the military in 2020 during a youth-led anti-police brutality protest.
There are other factors such as high unemployment rates and a deteriorating education system that will influence the decision and subsequent youth vote. A lot of skilled workers have left Nogeria in search for better living and working conditions overseas. Those in the diaspora are going to be influential in this year's presidential election. There is a massive campaign on social media for Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
Obi is the youth-favourite, he is the youngest among the four frontrunners and he appears to be different and principled and thus he has gained the support of young people. We have already observed how influential the youth vote is in electrical outcomes, Kenya, Zambia and Malawi are recent examples. It ought to be seen how the young population in Nigeria will use their numbers not only on social media but also on the ballot to usher in their preferred candidate into office.
Nigeria's election is expected to lead by example in West Africa, a region that has experienced a crisis of confidence in democracy. In the past three years, the region has witnessed a series of coups and attempted coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea. A smooth leadership transition in Nigeria would be key in addressing regional geopolitics and regaining democratic confidence not only in West Africa but the continent as a whole.
@JSimangO