Nigerians will vote in their seventh consecutive presidential election in the next 24 hours. The stakes could not be higher, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor will face an array of challenges, from a struggling economy to ongoing insecurity, and the decision of who to vote for will have a significant impact on the country’s future. With just one day until the election, voters must carefully consider their options.
Before we proceed, we must first understand the types of voters who will be voting on Saturday. The first are disgruntled young people, who make up the majority of voters. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 75.4 percent of voters are between the ages of 18 and 49. The second group, the change seekers, is comprised of this demographic. These people want Nigeria’s political system to break completely with the old order. They, like the first, are teenagers. The third group wants their candidates to be given a second chance. Having failed in previous political roles, they are hopeful that their candidates will succeed this time.
Nigerians have experienced significant economic downturns in recent years as a result of a combination of factors such as falling oil prices, political instability, rising debt levels, and ineffective economic policies. The country has survived (but has not fully recovered from) two major economic downturns, one of which was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Citizens are confronted with high levels of inflation and unemployment, and many people are struggling to make ends meet. Some of the leading candidates have promised broad economic reforms, while others have focused on more targeted solutions, such as job creation programs or infrastructure investments.
The current naira scarcity is noteworthy. The ongoing naira scarcity could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the 2023 presidential election. According to some analysts, the crisis could lead to lower voter turnout, poor campaign spending, and increased reliance on foreign funding. All of these have the potential to jeopardize the integrity of the electoral process entirely.
Most Nigerians have become more concerned about security in recent years. The country has been dealing with multifaceted and multi-layered security challenges such as banditry, communal violence, and ethno-religious conflicts, and the selection of the country’s next president will be critical in addressing these issues. It’s that time of year when candidates promise Nigerians the moon and the stars to deal with insecurity. The key issue of divergence among the candidates is dealing with the issues. While some candidates have proposed increased military spending and more aggressive tactics against insurgents, others have emphasized the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.
Many Nigerians will be concerned about pressing issues such as healthcare, education, and corruption when they vote on February 25th. In recent years, the country’s healthcare system has been ranked as one of the worst in the world. In addition to being severely underfunded and understaffed, the infant and maternal mortality rates have skyrocketed in recent years. The education system is in a near-comatose state as a result of industrial actions that have crippled the nation’s universities and research centers. Perhaps the biggest elephant in the room, corruption, which many politicians and government officials have been accused of, is surprisingly one area the leading presidential candidates appear silent about, in contrast to the 2015 cycle, in which anti-corruption played critical roles.
With so many issues at stake, it’s crucial that voters carefully consider their options before casting their ballots. Before voting on Saturday, voters must rise above the toga of ethnicity, religion, and other primal emotions. Voters should be more interested in each candidate’s previous public and private records/achievements. Furthermore, Nigerians must examine each candidate’s manifesto through the lens of what works rather than some well-put-together, unrealistic documents that lead nowhere. They should also consider the candidate’s character and leadership qualities, as well as their ability to collaborate effectively with other political leaders.
Finally, who to vote for is a deeply personal decision, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, by carefully considering their options and weighing the pros and cons of each candidate, PVC-owning voters can help ensure that their country is led by a capable and effective president who can steer the country towards a more prosperous and peaceful future.