There are not great expectations from the February 25 elections, in which the new head of state and state governments will be elected. Because in Nigeria, where the organizational problem cannot be solved despite a huge population and rich opportunities, the internal security and economic crisis has become almost chronic in the country.
Presidential elections will be held on February 25 in Nigeria, an African country with a population of 220 million, one of the most densely populated countries in the Islamic world. Since Mohammed Buhari, who won the 2015 and 2019 elections and served two terms as president in Nigeria, has completed his term, a different name will take the seat of the Nigerian president after the election.
In Nigeria, which is governed by the federal republic system, the election of the political cadres to run the states will also take place on the same day. In Nigeria, where the election marathon will continue after February 25, 11 March 2023 was planned as the day of the governorship elections.
Eighteen candidates vying to become the country's new head of state are battling to replace President Muhammad Buhari, whose term expires in May.
PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD BUKHARI FULFILLED 2 TERMS
Muhammad Buhari, who has completed the presidential term, which is a maximum of two terms according to the Nigerian constitution, will hand over his duties to the new head of state, who will be victorious on February 25, in May. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammad Bukhari's party, will contest the elections with President Bukhari's backed presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The candidate of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) was Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president. Atiku Abubakar, who failed to win all the 5 elections he previously competed in as a presidential candidate, will appear before the Nigerian people as a presidential candidate for the sixth time. While the names of these two politicians stand out during the election process, a total of eighteen presidential candidates from different parties and views are taking part in the election race.
NIGERIA FAILS TO REACH ITS RICH POTENTIAL
In Nigeria, which has an average of 65 percent Muslim population, the winner of the presidential election will lead Africa's most populous country for the next four years. Nigeria, which has a high development potential due to its advantages such as its population, natural wealth and geopolitical location, is in deep contrast with the opportunities it has. Different governments that have come to power in Nigeria to date have not found permanent solutions to serious problems in many areas such as security, economic crisis and infrastructure difficulties in the country. Although it has the potential to become a popular country in world politics, the management and organization problem in the country prevents Nigeria from revealing its expected potential.
SECURITY HAS BECOME A CHRONIC ISSUE
One of the biggest promises made by presidential candidates in the Nigerian elections is the promise of ensuring security in the country. Because the armed groups active in many parts of the country could not be brought under the control of the central government. While thousands of soldiers and policemen lost their lives in the attacks of the armed groups that attacked the Nigerian army and the government's military units, mosques, churches, teachers and students at the beginning of the classes, farmers working in their fields and many civilian segments of the society can suddenly become the targets of terrorist groups.
Thousands of Nigerians, both soldiers and civilians, fall victim to terrorist attacks throughout the year in Nigeria, where crimes such as kidnapping, robbery, extortion, and bomb attacks are constantly being experienced for ransom. The fact that citizens were allowed to carry weapons in order to protect themselves against gangs in the state of Zamfara in the northeastern part of Nigeria last week shows the point of the security problem in the country in its clearest form. At least 41 people were killed when terrorists ambushed local security forces in Katsina state, Nigeria, and terrorists continue to make threats to sabotage the election process.