In the run-up to the hotly contested elections, the political atmosphere has been charged by intense party campaigns, sporadic incidents of political violence, and rising expectations. Political tensions are also being fueled by the high stakes of the presidential election.
Apart from being denied their right to peace and security, some IDPs face the risk of also being disenfranchised.
Compared to past elections it would appear that the 2019 election has received less attention from the international community.
In Nigeria, incidents of violence are due to the zero-sum approach to political competition and the militarization of elections.
Despite the landmark legislation aimed at increasing the political participation of youth, early indications regarding youth political empowerment are not very encouraging.
A review of the campaign documents of the two leading candidates, Muhammadu Buhari’s Next Level and Abubakar Atiku’s Let’s Get Nigeria Working Again, reveals that both are high on promises but short on specifics.
