18 candidates have been approved by Nigeria’s electoral commission to run in the presidential election that will take place in February of 2019.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) highlighted that 18 parties had fielded presidential candidates and their vice presidential running mates in a list released on Tuesday.
Atiku Abubakar, a 75-year-old senior presidential candidate and former vice president, represents the Peoples Democratic Party in opposition, and 70-year-old former Lagos governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu represents the ruling All Progressives Congress. Both of their names are on the list.
Peter Obi, a 60-year-old former governor of Anambra state and member of the Labour Party, is also a part of it and is regarded as a third force.
On Wednesday of the next week, the official election campaigns will begin.
The contenders are expected to address a variety of challenges, including widespread insecurity, ongoing unemployment, and a deteriorating economic outlook.
More than 95 million voters in Nigeria’s population of more than 200 million have registered to vote in the upcoming election.