Nigeria’s presidential election on Saturday is being called one of the closest in history.
Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan is facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
The continuing battle against the armed group Boko Haram has dominated the campaign. But there is a lot more at stake in a country of contrast and contradiction.
Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy, with the value of all goods and services topping $500bn, and it is one of the continent’s largest oil producers, producing some 2.5 million barrels a day.
But latest figures from Nigeria’s Bureau of Statistics show almost two-thirds of Nigerians live in “absolute poverty”, while half of the population has no electricity.
WaterAid, an international NGO, says two thirds of people do not have access to safe water.
The two main candidates are calling for a peaceful vote, and for voters to accept the outcome.
But what will set them apart at the ballot box?
Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault
Guests:
Japheth Omojuwa – Columnist with Nigeria’s The Punch newspaper and a socio-economic and political commentator.
Manji Cheto – Vice President of Teneo Intelligence and a risk analyst on the political economy of sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Al Jazeera
