In preparation for the upcoming presidential election in February, Nigeria has added more than 10 million new voters to its electoral rolls, the majority of whom are young people.
Nigerian voters will choose a new leader to replace Muhammadu Buhari, who is unable to run after serving the maximum two terms permitted by the constitution. Additionally, governors and new members of the house of representatives will be chosen.
10.49 million new voters were registered in Nigeria during a year-long exercise that finished on Sunday, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with 84 percent of them being under the age of 34.
According to INEC data, 84 million people were registered to vote in the last election in 2019.
Election turnout in Nigeria is normally low, but political observers claim that the nation’s economic problems, as seen by double-digit inflation, as well as increased insecurity, may encourage more citizens, particularly young people, to cast ballots.
Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, is running for president under APC, against Atiku Abubakar of PDP, the leading opponent, and Peter Obi who is perceived as the third force.