Presidential election in Nigeria: the president promises a “free” and “transparent” ballot

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari vowed on Sunday that the presidential election scheduled for 2023 will be

,

and

on the anniversary of the return of democracy to Nigeria's most populous country. Africa.

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“I know that many are worried about the increased insecurity due to terrorist activities in some parts of the country.

The government is working hard to (…) ensure that the 2023 general elections are safe”

, insisted Muhammadu Buhari during a speech broadcast on local television.

he said, before adding:

.

As the presidential campaign is officially launched, the main parties having nominated their candidate, the Head of State has launched an appeal for unity.

“We have to keep a reasonable attitude during the campaign and the election.

This should not be seen as a 'do or die' question.

Democracy means that the people can express their will.

There must be winners and losers

,” said Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of Democracy Day and who is ending his second term under fire from critics for his record deemed catastrophic.

After years of military dictatorships, Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999, although insecurity, extreme poverty, endemic corruption and clientelism persist.

The country is the scene of a more than 10-year-old jihadist insurgency in the northeast, criminal gangs in the northwest and center as well as separatist unrest in the southeast.

Africa's largest economy, weakened by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, is now bearing the fallout from the war in Ukraine, which has driven up fuel and food prices across the continent.

Former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have been nominated respectively for the ruling Party of Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The two men are very controversial: they are both in their seventies, extremely wealthy and have been accused of corruption on multiple occasions.

Since returning to civilian rule, Nigeria has held six national elections that have often been marred by fraud, technical difficulties, violence and legal challenges.