News
Nigeria: Campaigning comes to a close as Nigerians vote Saturday for a new President
Campaigning has wound to a close in Nigeria’s presidential elections, with the two leading candidates delivering their final messages to supporters before Saturday’s vote.
This year’s presidential elections are being seen as the closest race in the country’s history, with incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
The country’s land and sea borders were shut at midnight on Wednesday (7:00 pm EDT) as part of stringent security measures that also include an 8-hour restriction on movement when polling stations are open.
Nigeria has had a history of election-related unrest and both candidates appeared keen to prevent a repeat of 2011, when clashes erupted after the results were announced.
This time round, fears of al-Qaeda-linked Boko Haram suicide attacks and bombings at vulnerable targets, including polling stations, have seen unprecedented calls for vigilance from the security services.
Jonathan and Buhari signed a pledge of non-violence in January and on Thursday repeated their commitment to peaceful elections, with the campaigns formally ending at midnight.
“Now that the campaigns have come to an end, we meet to renew our pledge for peaceful elections,” read a document signed by the two men at a hotel in Abuja and made available to reporters.
“We therefore call on all fellow citizens of our dear country and our party supporters to refrain from violence or any acts that may in any way jeopardize our collective vision of a free, fair and credible election.”
The country is almost evenly split between a Muslim-majority north and largely Christian south, with Buhari and Jonathan traditionally pulling support from their respective regions.
Acceptance of the result is seen as key to preventing violence and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had been working with the parties to tone down often violent rhetoric.
