Nigeria’s presidential campaign season officially opened this week ahead of the January 16 vote, setting up a contest between incumbent President Bola Tinubu and 18 challengers. Tinubu, who won 36.6% of the vote in 2023, is seeking a second term amid widespread frustration over economic hardship and insecurity. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who secured 29% and 25% respectively in the last election, are again expected to be central opposition figures. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of Nigerians believe the country is moving in the wrong direction, with 45% identifying economic difficulties and insecurity as their biggest concerns. For many, Tinubu’s reforms, including naira devaluation and fuel subsidy removal, directly strained household finances. Nevertheless, the opposition is divided, denting the chances that Tinubu will be ousted from office come 2027.