Nigeria’s presidential election, described as a close race, will take place on Saturday.
It is the largest democratic exercise on the continent, with 93 million registered to vote.
The country is currently grappling with multiple economic and security challenges, including fuel and cash shortages, rising terror attacks, high inflation, and a decreasing local currency.
None of the 18 candidates is an incumbent or a former military leader, and the leading contenders are Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the main opposition leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the lesser known Labour Party.
The three candidates are leading in opinion polls.
However, Tinubu has faced accusations of corruption and has not satisfactorily addressed concerns about his health. Abubakar’s candidacy might disrupt the unofficial rotation of the presidency between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions.
Obi, the only Christian among the leading candidates, is being touted as a credible alternative to the two major candidates due to his ‘no frills’ approach to politics.
However, he has also faced accusations of offshore accounts, which he denies.
The country is currently dealing with a shortage of the new currency notes, which could potentially disrupt the elections.