Nigeria’s incumbent president leads in early reelection polls amid political campaigns.
Nigeria’s electoral commission has set January 16 for next year’s presidential and National Assembly elections, fast-tracking its initial election timeline by about one month. Prior to this, the country passed a new electoral law with changes that seemed to catch the opposition off guard and left the incumbent firmly in control of the race. For instance, the new electoral rules specify that party candidates can only be chosen either through direct primaries or consensus, effectively banning the indirect mode of selection. While this development means more involvement in the electoral process for the average Nigerian, the shift portends trouble for the opposition. Tinubu’s strongest challengers are Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, and Peter Obi, a former state governor. Both presidential hopefuls recently formed a coalition with other opposition members, a move that required them to decamp from their previous parties. As a result, a large number of their supporters have yet to formally join the new party, potentially preventing them from participating in the primary process. Meanwhile, Tinubu has been consolidating his base and strengthening his hold over his party, the All Progressives Congress, leaving him better prepared for next year’s election.
Bloomberg