Why Nigeria’s Election Matters to the World

Authors : Dr. Neha Sinha & Shahbaaz Manzoor

Source : BBC

Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960. With independence, fireworks lit up the streets, hope and promise filled the air for thousands of  Nigerians who watched their new green and white flag being raised over the capital. Post independence many times, the Nigerians’ hopes have been dismantled as they have endured a bitter civil war, decades of military dictatorship and, in the past eight years there has been a rise in violence, terrorism and social-economic and political failure under President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria's presidential election that was held on Saturday, is considered one of the most consequential in twenty-three years since the last dictatorship ended and democracy took hold. The election is seen by many as a chance to change course. This time the voters are eager to elect a leader who could lead the youth of the country in the right direction, utlilise country’s potential, and pave new direction for the people of Nigeria. More than nine million voters turned out to cast their votes for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria - Africa's most populated country. Presently, Nigeria is going through a phase of economic instability, acute cash-crunch and worsening security conditions. The need of the hour is to have a government who would be able to rejuvenate the economy and tackle the deepening security crisis in the country. The outcome of this election will also be detrimental in structuring Nigeria's relations with other countries, keeping in mind the regional dimensions and vulnerabilities that exist in the global arena.. With around eighteen candidates fighting for the President's post, a tight fight is anticipated between Bola Tinuba of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Atika Abubakar of the main opposition People`s Democratic Party, Labour Party`s Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. It's significant and noteworthy that even in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, people are coming out to vote in huge numbers - which signifies the desperateness among the citizens of Nigeria, to bring a change in the country.

Further Read at https://www.dailypioneer.com/2023/state-editions/why-nigeria---s-election-matters-to-the-world.html

Dr. Neha Sinha is a Senior Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of International Studies

Shahbaaz Manzoor is a Post Graduate student at Amity Institute of International Studies