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Africa's most populous nation, goes to the polls Saturday to elect a new president amid worsening insecurity and economic struggles. Tensions over shortages of cash and fuel could also influence how people vote.
Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja, Nigeria.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptNigeria Elections Preview (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Who Will Emerge as Nigeria's Next President?
TEASER: February 25 election is most closely contested poll in more than two decades
PUBLISHED: 2/21/23, 9:42 pm
BYLINE: Timothy Obiezu
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Abuja, Nigeria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Timothy Obiezu
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:54
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, goes to the polls Saturday to elect a new president amid worsening insecurity and economic struggles. Tensions over shortages of cash and fuel could also influence how people vote. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja, Nigeria.
((NARRATOR))
Nigeria's most contested presidential election in 24 years is near.
And with a record 93.4 million Nigerians registered to vote, including more than 10 million new voters, mostly young people, observers say the dynamics of this race may be different than any election before.
They predict Peter Obi will benefit most from the new voters.
Experts say he is a formidable third-party force in a country where presidential elections have traditionally been a contest between the two main parties.
((Radio track...Abuja resident Jason Onwe says Obi is the best man for the job.))
((Jason Onwe, Peter Obi Supporter))((In English, 18 secs))
"This man what I call a clean slate. He said if you have any accusations bring it up let
me see, and till today nobody has brought any accusations. That's why I am voting for Peter Obi."
((NARRATOR))
Obi promises economic reforms and prudent government spending, but he is competing against the established giants of Nigeria's politics.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling APC party, known as a political kingmaker, promises he will fight insecurity and continue the policies of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari.
There's also the major opposition People's Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who is a former vice president. His supporters say his experience makes him the best choice.
Nigeria has been struggling to control widespread insecurity and prevent its economy from nosediving.
But experts say those are not the only factors influencing votes this time.
((Radio track:…Idayat Hassan is a director at the Center for Democracy and Development.))
((Idayat Hassan, Center for Democracy and Development)) ((In English, Secs))
"The combination of fuel scarcity for an oil producing nation like Nigeria and the scarcity of naira is now redefining the whole electoral system, even how people will likely vote and what we expect to see on election day in a closely contested election where little things will actually matter "
((NARRATOR))
Nigeria's Central Bank is implementing a currency reform that has led to scarcity of hard cash.
Many of the candidates have called for the CBN to extend its deadline on the currency transition but the Central Bank, backed by the president, has refused.
((Radio track: …Aliyu Abdullahi is an Abuja resident who says he has struggled to deal with the cash policy.))
((Aliyu Abdullahi, Laborer))((In Hausa, Secs))
"Just about three days ago, chaos about this cash issue led to violence in my area and two people were killed. This bruise on my nose was from that day."
((NARRATOR))
In the run-up to the vote, however, election workers have come under attack in several areas. As millions head to the polls, there is concern about possible violence.
((Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Abuja, Nigeria
Embargo DateFebruary 21, 2023 19:59 EST
Byline
((Timothy Obiezu, for VOA News, Abuja, Nigeria))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
