{"id":4599,"date":"2023-02-21T08:43:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T08:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opendoorsuk.org\/?p=4599"},"modified":"2024-02-13T15:43:36","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T15:43:36","slug":"nigeria-elections-context","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/connect.opendoorsuk.org\/ireland\/blog\/news\/latest-news\/nigeria-elections-context\/","title":{"rendered":"Why does Nigeria\u2019s general election matter for Christians?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Nigeria’s general election takes place on Saturday 25 February. In this article, Open Doors Advocacy team explain why the elections and their aftermath matter for the nation’s persecuted Christians – and what they are asking the global church to pray for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The general election is likely to have far-reaching impact on Nigeria’s Christians, and the wider region<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This week, Nigerians are due to go to the polls. They will vote amidst a security crisis and stifling economic hardship.  Deadly violence, flagrant corruption and apparently feckless security agencies spell out grave difficulties for whoever will take the President\u2019s seat next. And this election matters: the results will be felt well beyond Nigeria\u2019s borders and will determine the stability of the region. We must pray for the best possible result, and for the protection of Christians and others where there is potential for increased violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria\u2019s election will rock the region<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nigeria seems to be at a turning point – this election has the potential to tilt the future of West Africa. Neighbouring states not only rely heavily on their exports to Nigeria but are caught in their own existential struggles with the same cross-border criminal networks: Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militants. A wave of military coups \u2013 six since the beginning of 2021 \u2013 has severely damaged democratic governance and state capacity as military governments fight to contain the expansion of jihadi organised crime networks. Nigeria will swing the whole region with its success or failure; and we need to pray it will survive, because the stakes are high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who\u2019s who? The candidates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Two ultra-wealthy men – both tainted by corruption allegations – are the frontrunners for the elections on 25 February. There are fears that neither will make it a priority to tackle the most vital issues facing persecuted Christians in Nigeria.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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PRAY FOR NIGERIA<\/div>\r\n\r\n
You can join Open Doors supporters across the country at a prayer webinar on 23 February for the elections\r\n<\/div>\r\n Register today<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n

Bola Tinubu, the 70-year-old \u2018Godfather of Lagos\u2019, is the candidate from the majority-Christian south. Traditionally, the southern candidate is a Christian. Tinubu, though, is a Muslim, and his selection of a Muslim running mate \u2013 a \u2018Muslim-Muslim ticket\u2019 \u2013 has caused concerns in a population that is largely Christian and already fearful of the growing power of militant Islamist groups, which desperately needs to be addressed. Tinubu is competing against Atiku Abubaker, a wealthy former Vice-President from the mostly Muslim north, and also himself Muslim. Atiku is a resilient campaigner: he has failed to win the presidency five times already. Like Tinubu, he has also been mired in well-publicised corruption allegations throughout his career. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wildcard of the campaign is Peter Obi. Considered an outside hope at first, Obi – a Roman Catholic from the east – has captured the popular imagination of tens of millions of young people. Reaching across ethnic and religious divides, his new Labour Party has dismantled the traditional dynamics of Nigerian politics. His record as a local state governor is good \u2013 although not perfect \u2013 but he does not suffer the corruption taint of the other candidates. His movement of idealistic young followers \u2013 who call themselves \u2018The Obedients\u2019 – almost worship him. Should \u2018The Obedients\u2019 come to believe that the election has been stolen from them, they may present a civil disobedience problem. The possibility of them flooding the streets in protest, sparking violence from the police or military, is a grave concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winning candidate must win an outright majority of votes, and also win more than 25% of votes in 23 states. So, could Peter Obi deprive a frontrunner of those margins? He might \u2013 and the country could then face a run-off vote, for the first time ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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