LAGOS: Nigeria made ultimate arrangements Friday on the eve of presidential elections, with candidates pitting continuity in opposition to reform in a fight between incumbent Muhammadu Buhari and his main rival Atiku Abubakar.
Buhari, the 76-year-old chief of Africa's maximum populous country used to be elected in 2015 on a wave of hope he could defeat Boko Haram Islamists, tackle rampant corruption and boost the economic system.
But he faces a stiff problem from former vice-president Abubakar, 72, amid fears about widening insecurity, claims of creeping authoritarianism, and economic incompetence.
A total of 73 candidates are on the ballot for Saturday — the 6th election in 20 years since Nigeria returned to democracy after decades of army rule.
Buhari, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are thought to be the principle contenders.
Campaigning ended Thursday with ultimate rallies in Buhari's home state of Katsina, in the northwest, and Abubakar's local Adamawa, in the northeast.
A file 84,004,084 people are registered to vote.
Also up for grabs are 360 seats in the decrease House of Representatives and 109 in the Senate.
Nearly 120,00zero polling devices are set to open at 0700 GMT and shut at 1600 GMT.
No date has been given for the effects, but an announcement is anticipated from early next week.
Electors face a choice between two aged candidates who have both been part of the political elite for many years and don't reflect the rustic's more and more young demographic.
Just over half the registered voters are elderly 18-35.
Chief a few of the criticisms in opposition to Buhari is safety, with signs of a resurgence of Boko Haram in Nigeria's far off northeast and new conflicts somewhere else.
His anti-corruption campaign has been described as one-sided in opposition to political fighters.
Economic expansion picked up last year after a recession in 2016 but remains sluggish. The value of dwelling is prime in a rustic the place lots of the 190 million people are living in poverty in spite of billions earned from oil.
Abubakar, 72, expenses himself as a dynamic, modern, pro-business chief. But the previous vice-president faces allegations about hyperlinks to corruption.
Buhari said in a televised address Thursday that reelection would give him the chance to fulfil his preliminary promises and whole essential infrastructure initiatives.
"It is a choice between going back or keeping the momentum of change," he said
For his section, Abubakar pitched himself as "the ticket to development and advancement" and cautioned voters in opposition to 4 more years of "misdirection and maladministration".
"There is no best candidate among them," said Aliyu Jibrilla, a 70-year-old retired teacher in the Adamawa state capital, Yola, adding: "intellectually... they're not up to it".
"It's about time these old people go," added Modibbo Sadiq, a 23-year-old college graduate.
Security is a constant threat in Nigeria, after previous outbreaks of deadly election-linked violence.
As a precaution, all vehicles had been ordered off the roads from 6:00 am to six:00 pm Saturday.
Nigeria's police leader Mohammed Adamu said the limitations have been designed to stop "hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from hijacking and disrupting the electoral process".
With a strengthened police and armed forces presence on the streets Friday, the internal ministry announced that land borders will shut for 48 hours from noon.
Candidates have pledged to habits non violent elections and to just accept the effects, but there were clashes in the southern state of Rivers.
APC candidates had been averted from working in the parliamentary and governorship elections in Rivers on account of a dispute over their variety.
Vote-rigging has marred previous Nigerian elections, and this year concerns had been raised both the APC and PDP may have sought to shop for votes.
Red flags additionally went up after voter playing cards have been dispensed past due, or not at all, and 3 fires in 12 days Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) workplaces.
Ahmad Ado Hasan, 21, a tailor and first-time voter in the northern town of Kano, said: "As a citizen, you must vote your choice, not sell your vote.
"God has already destined the winner, we're best to substantiate via our votes. So, vote buying isn't the answer."
Buhari, the 76-year-old chief of Africa's maximum populous country used to be elected in 2015 on a wave of hope he could defeat Boko Haram Islamists, tackle rampant corruption and boost the economic system.
But he faces a stiff problem from former vice-president Abubakar, 72, amid fears about widening insecurity, claims of creeping authoritarianism, and economic incompetence.
A total of 73 candidates are on the ballot for Saturday — the 6th election in 20 years since Nigeria returned to democracy after decades of army rule.
Buhari, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are thought to be the principle contenders.
Campaigning ended Thursday with ultimate rallies in Buhari's home state of Katsina, in the northwest, and Abubakar's local Adamawa, in the northeast.
A file 84,004,084 people are registered to vote.
Also up for grabs are 360 seats in the decrease House of Representatives and 109 in the Senate.
Nearly 120,00zero polling devices are set to open at 0700 GMT and shut at 1600 GMT.
No date has been given for the effects, but an announcement is anticipated from early next week.
Electors face a choice between two aged candidates who have both been part of the political elite for many years and don't reflect the rustic's more and more young demographic.
Just over half the registered voters are elderly 18-35.
Chief a few of the criticisms in opposition to Buhari is safety, with signs of a resurgence of Boko Haram in Nigeria's far off northeast and new conflicts somewhere else.
His anti-corruption campaign has been described as one-sided in opposition to political fighters.
Economic expansion picked up last year after a recession in 2016 but remains sluggish. The value of dwelling is prime in a rustic the place lots of the 190 million people are living in poverty in spite of billions earned from oil.
Abubakar, 72, expenses himself as a dynamic, modern, pro-business chief. But the previous vice-president faces allegations about hyperlinks to corruption.
Buhari said in a televised address Thursday that reelection would give him the chance to fulfil his preliminary promises and whole essential infrastructure initiatives.
"It is a choice between going back or keeping the momentum of change," he said
For his section, Abubakar pitched himself as "the ticket to development and advancement" and cautioned voters in opposition to 4 more years of "misdirection and maladministration".
"There is no best candidate among them," said Aliyu Jibrilla, a 70-year-old retired teacher in the Adamawa state capital, Yola, adding: "intellectually... they're not up to it".
"It's about time these old people go," added Modibbo Sadiq, a 23-year-old college graduate.
Security is a constant threat in Nigeria, after previous outbreaks of deadly election-linked violence.
As a precaution, all vehicles had been ordered off the roads from 6:00 am to six:00 pm Saturday.
Nigeria's police leader Mohammed Adamu said the limitations have been designed to stop "hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from hijacking and disrupting the electoral process".
With a strengthened police and armed forces presence on the streets Friday, the internal ministry announced that land borders will shut for 48 hours from noon.
Candidates have pledged to habits non violent elections and to just accept the effects, but there were clashes in the southern state of Rivers.
APC candidates had been averted from working in the parliamentary and governorship elections in Rivers on account of a dispute over their variety.
Vote-rigging has marred previous Nigerian elections, and this year concerns had been raised both the APC and PDP may have sought to shop for votes.
Red flags additionally went up after voter playing cards have been dispensed past due, or not at all, and 3 fires in 12 days Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) workplaces.
Ahmad Ado Hasan, 21, a tailor and first-time voter in the northern town of Kano, said: "As a citizen, you must vote your choice, not sell your vote.
"God has already destined the winner, we're best to substantiate via our votes. So, vote buying isn't the answer."
Crunch time as Nigeria goes to the polls
![Crunch time as Nigeria goes to the polls]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 15, 2019
Rating:
