Who is leading in presidential election in Nigeria

Tens of millions of Nigerians head to voting booths on Saturday to decide a tight and unpredictable contest for the presidency and parliament of Africa's ...

It could also send a message to other leaders and ruling parties clinging to power on the continent. However, analysts point out that this is the seventh poll held since the end of military rule in 1999 and that some Nigerian democratic institutions are growing stronger. In recent weeks, an effort to replace almost all Nigeria’s bank notes – in part to reduce the widespread practice of vote buying – has caused massive economic disruption and much popular anger. More than 80% of the 10 million new voters who have registered for the coming poll are “I don’t want to vote for any of them. [describing it](https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/06/nigeria-election-2023-obi-tinubu-abubakar/) as “a global event – even if the world scarcely knows it”. Both are seen as traditional politicians who will seek to mobilise voters with massive organisation and spending. Analysts have spoken of a “bellwether” election that could be crucial turning point after several years of worsening insecurity and acute economic troubles. [criminality](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerian-gunmen-kill-eight-including-police-chief-2023-02-01/) affecting much of the country. Obi is seen as a reformist willing to overhaul Nigeria’s political system who has reached across the country’s many ethnic and religious faultlines. [ the Daily Post newspaper told its readers on Saturday morning, ](https://dailypost.ng/2023/02/25/nigeria-decides-2023-d-day-is-here/)saying it has “been a long road” to the polls. [Africa](https://www.theguardian.com/world/africa).

Eighteen candidates are competing to succeed Muhammadu Buhari as president, but only four are frontrunners.

Only four of the 18 candidates are considered frontrunners: Bola Tinubu of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the leading opposition People’s Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). [Key issues at stake](/news/2023/2/23/nigeria-election-2023-five-reasons-to-care-about-the-vote) include the economy, which has suffered two recessions in four years, and security. [Nigeria’s elections for the presidency](https://aje.aj-harbinger.com/news/liveblog/2023/2/25/nigeria-elections-live-news-nation-poised-for-presidential-vote) and both houses of the federal parliament were under way on Saturday across the country’s 36 states.

The elections are the biggest democratic exercise in Africa, with 87 million people eligible to vote.

He has been dogged by accusations of corruption and cronyism, which he denies. The wealthy businessman served as governor of the south-eastern Anambra State from 2006 to 2014. The new notes were introduced in order to tackle inflation, and also vote-buying. A candidate needs to have the most votes and 25% of ballots cast in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states to be declared the winner. "As a Nigerian you expect any eventuality, so I came out with my power bank and a bottle of water. He is known as a political godfather in the south-west region, where he wields huge influence, but like Mr Abubakar, has also been dogged by allegations of corruption over the years and poor health, both of which he denies. Most people consider the election a referendum on the APC, which has overseen a period of economic hardship and worsening insecurity. Most of his career has been spent in the corridors of power, having worked as a top civil servant, vice-president and a prominent businessman. On the eve of the election a member of the House of Representatives was arrested with almost $500,000 (£419,000) in cash, and a list of people he was supposed to give it to, police say. Although he was in the PDP before then, he is seen as a relatively fresh face and enjoys fervent support among some sections of Nigeria's youth, especially in the south. Tens of thousands of polling stations are counting the results, which will be collated and sent to the electoral headquarters in the capital Abuja. But voting was postponed to Sunday at 141 polling stations in the oil-rich southern state of Bayelsa because of disruptions.