Connect with us

Politics

#NigeriaDecides2023: 18 Contestants With Tinubu, Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso As Front-Runners Battles For Presidency

Published

on

Today, citizens of Nigeria will participate in the first phase of the 2023 general election by casting their votes to elect a new president as well as 468 federal lawmakers.

The second phase of the election, which will feature the governorship and state assembly poll, is scheduled to be held in two weeks’ time.

This year’s general election marks the seventh since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria. The country previously held general elections in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019.

Today’s election in Nigeria will see the participation of 18 registered parties, which is the highest number in the country’s contemporary political history. Each of these parties is fielding candidates for the various positions being contested.

They are Christopher Imumolen (Accord), Hamza Al-Mustapha (AA), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC), Yabani Sani (ADP), Bola Tinubu (APC), Peter Umeadi (APGA), Princess Ojei (APM), and Charles Nnadi (APP).

Others are Sunday Adenuga (BP), Peter Obi (LP), Rabi’u Kwankwaso (NNPP), Felix Osakwe (NRM), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Kola Abiola (PRP), Adebayo Adewole (SDP), Ado Ibrahim Abdulmalik (YPP) and Dan Nwanyanwu (ZLP).

Despite the large number of presidential candidates, political analysts and observers of Nigeria’s democratic process have categorized the election as a four-horse race. The leading candidates in this race are Mr. Tinubu, Mr. Atiku, Mr. Obi, and Mr. Kwankwaso. These four candidates have been identified as the frontrunners in the presidential election.

Regardless of who emerges as the winner of today’s election, the victor will be sworn in on May 29th to serve as the President of Nigeria for a four-year term. The newly elected President will succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, whose second term in office will come to an end on that same day.

In addition to the presidential election, over 4,000 candidates are vying for positions in the National Assembly. Specifically, 1,100 candidates are competing for 108 out of the 109 seats in the Senate, while 3,057 candidates are contesting for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.

However, due to the recent murder of the Labour Party candidate, Oyibo Chukwu, the election in Enugu East Senatorial District has been postponed until March 11th.

Despite this unfortunate event, the elections for the remaining positions in the National Assembly are still scheduled to hold as planned.

The lawmakers who are elected in today’s election will be inaugurated in June as members of the 10th session of the bicameral federal legislature in Nigeria.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reported that a total of 93.5 million Nigerians registered to vote in the general election.

However, only slightly over 87 million voters, who have collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), will be able to participate in the poll. These eligible voters are spread across Nigeria’s 36 states, 774 local government areas, and 8,809 wards, and will cast their ballots in 176,846 polling units.

For the 2023 general election in Nigeria, a total of 1.5 million individuals have been selected to serve as agents for the 18 political parties that are participating in the election.

Despite some apprehension caused by the ongoing naira crisis and security challenges in the country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the public that it is ready for the polls.

INEC recently conducted a mock accreditation exercise to test its preparedness for the election, and its chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, has emphasized the commission’s commitment to ensuring a free and fair process.

Yakubu also stated that INEC’s loyalty is to the country, and it will do everything in its power to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.

Aside the deploying of thousands of ad hoc staff, with the NYSC contributing about 200,000 for today’s election, the electoral management body is employing new technologies, including the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Integrated Results and Verification System (IReV), which it believes are capable of preventing election rigging and ensuring the transparency and credibility of the polls.

To guarantee the safety of the voting process, Nigeria’s security agencies and military have assured the public that they are prepared to secure the polls. In total, close to a million personnel will be deployed in all the states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with the police accounting for over 310,973 of them.

Other security outfits also deploying their personnel include the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) with 102,000 personnel, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) with 21,783 personnel, the Nigeria Correctional Service with 11,336 personnel, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 9,447 personnel, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 9,447 personnel, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with 350 personnel, and the Nigeria Immigration Service with 21,640 personnel.

However, the political parties and their candidates have taken steps to ensure a violence-free process by signing pacts.

A total of 229 observer groups comprising 196 domestic and 33 international observers will also be deploying 146,913 observers for the election. Some of the foreign observers are drawn from the European Union, Commonwealth, African Union, ECOWAS, NDI and IRI. Similarly, media organisations and other relevant bodies have been accredited by the election management body to observe the election.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click to comment
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Politics

Shettima Heads to Ebonyi for APC Presidential Campaign Rally

Published

on

2023: It is time to sing songs of unity, peace prosperity, says Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, on Monday, November 9, 2026.

Stanley Nkwocha disclosed this in a statement released on Monday, announcing the Vice President’s visit to Ebonyi State for the campaign rally.

The rally is scheduled to take place at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, as part of the APC’s campaign activities under the Renewed Hope agenda.

SEE ALSO: 2027: Shettima Arrives in Uyo for APC Presidential Campaign Rally

The announcement called on residents and party supporters to turn out in large numbers to welcome the Vice President, describing the event as an opportunity for massive political mobilisation.

“One city. Thousands of voices. An atmosphere of incredible energy,” the statement said.

 

Continue Reading

Politics

NDC Warns Judiciary Against Turning Courts Into Tools for Political Opposition

Published

on

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has warned the judiciary against allowing itself to be used to undermine democracy following the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The party expressed concern that the judgment, alongside other recent court decisions involving opposition parties, could weaken Nigeria’s multi-party democracy and restrict political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

SEE ALSO: APC Pressuring Hotels to Deny Opposition Parties Venues – NDC Raises Alarm

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq. On Friday, the NDC said the manner in which some judgments, particularly those emanating from High Courts, were being delivered raised concerns about a possible attempt to exclude the ADC from the forthcoming elections.

While acknowledging the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, the party warned that court decisions capable of weakening opposition parties could create the impression that the judicial system was being used to frustrate democratic competition.

“The way some of these judgements are being churned out, especially from the High Courts suggests a deliberate effort to shut out the ADC from the forthcoming general elections by other means,” the statement read.

The NDC further argued that such developments could shrink the space for multi-party democracy, which it said was already facing significant threats under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The party consequently urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence, impartiality and integrity, stressing the need to protect public confidence in the institution.

It also called on the ADC to appeal the judgment without delay, urging the appellate court to grant an accelerated hearing to ensure the leadership dispute does not linger ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the NDC, resolving the matter promptly would prevent uncertainty from undermining democratic participation and the ability of political parties to prepare for the forthcoming polls.

The party concluded its statement with the declaration: “A New Nigeria is Possible!”

Continue Reading

Politics

APC Pressuring Hotels to Deny Opposition Parties Venues – NDC Raises Alarm

Published

on

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly pressuring hotels in Abuja to deny the opposition party access to their facilities, describing the development as an attempt to undermine democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The party raised the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director on Thursday, who expressed concern over what it described as increasing attempts to restrict the democratic space and silence opposition voices.

According to the NDC, it has faced not only alleged violent attacks by agents of the ruling APC but also discrimination from hotels and hospitality businesses in Abuja.

SEE ALSO: Two Suspected Political Thugs Killed After Attacking NDC Candidate’s Convoy in Ebonyi

The party specifically accused Rockview Hotel of cancelling agreements to provide facilities for its meetings on two separate occasions.

The first incident, according to the statement, occurred in June 2026 when the hotel allegedly withdrew its agreement to host the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting shortly before the scheduled event.

The NDC claimed that the hotel recently rejected another request to use its facilities for a meeting, allegedly informing the party that the decision came through an “order from above.”

The party also accused BON Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, of refusing to provide its facilities for a meeting despite the NDC claiming it had fulfilled all the conditions required.

The statement further alleged that the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council (NCC) was nearly disrupted after its event venue initially asked the party to refund its payment, saying it was no longer interested in making its facilities available.

The NDC suggested that the decision might have resulted from alleged threats or instructions from influential quarters.

However, the party said its insistence on using the facility after making payment eventually compelled the hotel to honour the arrangement.

Describing the alleged incidents as a threat to democratic participation, the NDC called on the APC to allow opposition parties to operate freely and campaign without interference.

“This is not democracy. The APC should allow all parties to campaign without let or hindrance, and give Nigerians the opportunity to make their choice on who governs them,” the statement said.

The party also urged Nigerians and supporters of democracy to call out Rockview Hotel and BON Hotel over what it described as their “anti-people and anti-democratic actions.”

Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the NDC declared that Nigerians deserved better governance and insisted that it was prepared to serve with passion and patriotism.

“Nigerians deserve better, and NDC is prepared to serve with passion and patriotism,” the statement added.

The party concluded with its declaration that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x