Inside Story

Nigeria election: A vote over Boko Haram?

With security at the heart of a presidential election campaign, who will voters trust to end conflict with armed group?

Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday to choose a president. It is the fifth election since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999. But the country has yet to experience a transition of power between different political parties.

Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan is from the ruling People’s Democratic Party. He is facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, who heads the opposition alliance, All Progressives Congress.

Central to both campaigns is security and how to combat the armed group Boko Haram.

Both men are adamant they have the determination and the means to see the job through.

Jonathan is a Christian from the Niger Delta in the south, while Buhari is a Muslim from Nigeria’s north.

But can either man build bridges across Nigeria’s fractious divides?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Mike Omeri – director-general of Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency, which serves to make the public aware of government policies.

Lai Mohammed – chief spokesman for the opposition All Progressives Congress.

James Schneider – editorial director for New Africa magazine.