NIGERIA ELECTIONS 2023: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BY CECILIA MACAULAY — BBC NEWS 

Did you know that if there is no clear winner in the Nigerian presidential election, a second round will be held within three weeks to elect a winner?

As Nigerians go to the presidential and national assembly polls on Saturday 25 February 2023, and the gubernatorial and state assemblies election on Saturday 11 March 2023, here are some facts you need to know:

FACT 1: A total of 18 candidates are campaigning for the top job, but only three have a realistic chance of winning, according to opinion polls: Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

FACT 2: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is 70 years old, is standing for the governing APC party. Known as a political godfather in the south-west region, he wields huge influence, but has been dogged by allegations of corruption over the years and poor health, both of which he denies. Some say his campaign slogan Emi Lokan, which means "it's my turn [to be president]" in the Yoruba language, shows a sense of entitlement.

FACT 3: Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is 76 years old, is running on behalf of the main opposition PDP. He has run for the presidency five times before - all of which he has lost. Most of his career has been in the corridors of power, having worked as a top civil servant, vice-president under Olusegun Obasanjo and a prominent businessman. Just like Mr. Tinubu, he has been accused of corruption and cronyism, which he denies.

FACT 4: Peter Obi, the youngest pf the contenders at 61 years of age, is hoping to break up the two-party system which has dominated Nigeria since the end of military rule in 1999 and is running for the little known Labour Party. Although he was in the PDP until last year, he is seen as a relatively fresh face and enjoys fervent support on social media and among Nigeria's youth. The wealthy businessman served as governor of the south-eastern Anambra State from 2006 to 2014. His backers, known as the "OBIdients" say he is the only candidate with integrity, but his critics argue that a vote for Obi is wasted as he is unlikely to win.

FACT 5: In order to win, a candidate has to obtain the highest number of votes nationwide, and more than a quarter of ballots cast in at least two-thirds of Nigeria's states. If none of the candidates manage this, there will be a second round run-off between the top two candidates within 21 days.

FACT 6: Among the main issues that the winner will need to tackle are: reducing INSECURITY in a country which is currently experiencing a kidnapping-for-ransom crisis, battling militant Islamists groups in parts of the north and a separatist insurgency in the south-east. Two of the most shocking cases last year were a mass shooting at a Catholic Church in Owo in Ondo state and the storming by gunmen of a passenger train in which dozens of people were killed or kidnapped in Edo state. Also, the Nigerian economy in 2022 experienced INFLATION which rose for 10 months in a row, just dipping to 21.3% according to the latest figures released last month. This rising cost of living has left many families struggling to make ends meet. Thirdly, UNEMPLOYMENT has left many graduates fearful that they may not find work even after years of university study. Latest figures from the country's National Bureau of Statistics show that 33% of the population is unemployed - jumping to 42.5% for younger adults.

FACT 7: Despite being a major oil producer, four out of 10 Nigerians live below the poverty line and "lack education and access to basic infrastructure, such as electricity, safe drinking water, and improved sanitation," according to the World Bank.

FACT 8: Despite the large number of registered voters (93.5 million), concerns persist about apathy and how many people will actually show up on the day to cast their ballot. With almost 40% of registered voters under 34, the vote has been called the "election of young people" by elections chief Mahmood Yakubu.

FACT 9: As well as the presidential vote, the public will also be choosing their representatives for parliament - the National Assembly. There are 469 legislators made up of 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives. Two weeks later on 11 March there will also be elections to choose governors for 28 out of Nigeria's 36 states.

FACT 10: Convention suggests a candidate from one of the two main parties will win - Mr. Atiku or Mr. Tinubu. But Mr. Obi's supporters are hoping he can spring a surprise if they can mobilise the large youth vote to back him.

Source:

Culled from Nigeria elections 2023: What you need to know By Cecilia Macaulay | BBC News

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-64187170

There will also be elections for the country's powerful state governors on Saturday 11 March.