Nigeria’s Democracy Is Fine, But Not Much Else
The election on Feb. 25 may bring a new kind of president to power, but he will be beset with old problems.
Nigeria’s Third Man.
Photographer: Benson Ibeabuchi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
If elections are any measure, Nigeria’s democracy — Africa’s largest — is in rude health. A second consecutive president will hand over power after an election, no small matter in the country’s history of turbulent transitions. The electorate seems highly motivated to vote on Feb. 25: 93.5 million, close to half the population, have registered, 40% of them under the age of 35.
In another break from the norm, the election will not be a straight fight between the two blocs that have long dominated Nigerian politics but a three-cornered contest. A maverick candidate, Peter Obi of the tiny Labour Party, is making a strong run against Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress and Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party.