(ANSA) - CAIRO, FEBRUARY 25 - Presidential and legislative elections are underway in Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa and the continent's economic colossus, which appear to be the most uncertain since the country passed to democracy in 1999 and called in a climate of insecurity, inflation and currency crisis.
Outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari concludes his second non-renewable term in May and the over 93 million voters are called to choose from 18 presidential candidates even if the real race is, for the first time, three-way.
The veterans Bola Tinubu, of the ruling AllProgressive Congress (APC) party and Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the main opposition force, stand out.
However, the traditional Nigerian political dualism was broken by Peter Obi, of the Labor Party, who leads some polls by relying on the favor of young people (the average age in Nigeria is 18).
The results are only expected from tomorrow onwards (the official ones within five days).
The candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner only if he garners at least a quarter of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states and in the capital.
Otherwise there will be a run-off between the first two winners within 21 days.
Voters today also choose new senators and deputies for the House of Representatives while elections for governorships are set for March 11th.
The lack of reliable polls makes it difficult to predict the winner and a close race is expected, even though the ruling party of former Lagos governor Tinubu can count on the state apparatus to garner electoral support.
(HANDLE).