Nigeria's crunch election
How 2023's presidential race could decide the economic future of Africa's biggest economy
Nigerians voted at the weekend in a presidential election whose outcome could bring relief to Africa's biggest economy after years of mismanagement. They faced a stark choice, from the continuity of the ruling party's Bola Tinubu to the seemingly pro-business platform of the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar to wildcard Peter Obi's pro-market reform pledges. And ahead of any final result, there's a high chance of a run-off and subsequent political uncertainty. Follow this dedicated page for our latest and most relevant insight into the 25th February election, its aftermath and its economic stakes.
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Nigeria Election FAQ
Q: When are Nigeria’s elections taking place?
A: General elections are scheduled for 25th February with voters electing a new president as well as members of parliament, followed by state leadership elections taking place on 11th March.
Q: How does Nigeria’s election system work?
A: To win the presidency, a candidate will have to secure a majority of votes overall and more than 25% of votes in at least two-thirds of states. Otherwise, a runoff will be scheduled between the two leading contenders.
Q: Who are the main presidential hopefuls?
A: The three main contenders for the presidency are Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – the main opposition – and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) .
Q: What platforms are key candidates running on?
A: By and large, the ruling APC party’s Bola Tinubu offers continuity and with it, unorthodox policies. Meanwhile, the pro-business campaign of the opposition PDP’s Atiku Abubakar is somewhat half-hearted under the hood. Labour Party candidate Peter Obi offers an even more meaningful shift towards market-friendly reforms, albeit with less growth-friendly measures also included in the proposed policy-mix.