Peter Obi is disrupting Nigeria’s election. Can he win it?

The wealthy businessman leads most election polls, threatening to reshape the established political order.

Labour party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi
Labour Party's Peter Obi waves his supporters during his campaign rally ahead of the Nigerian presidential election in Lagos, Nigeria, February 11, 2023 [File: Nyancho Nwanri/Reuters]

Nigerian politics might be on the verge of total upheaval. As Africa’s largest democracy heads to the polls on February 25, a third presidential candidate is disrupting what has in recent years been a two-horse race. Peter Obi, of the tiny Labour Party, is leading most polls ahead of more established candidates Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, and Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress. But in a country where polling data is a new phenomenon, will he actually win?

In this episode: 

  • Mark Amaza (@amasonic), senior communications officer, Yiaga Africa
  • Preston Ideh (@TimeyinPI), co-founder, Stears Data

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Ashish Malhotra with Negin Owliaei, Miranda Lin and our host, Malika Bilal. Amy Walters, Alexandra Locke and Negin Owliaei fact-checked this episode.

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Andy Greiner and Adam Abou-Gad are our engagement producers. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer, and Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.

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Source: Al Jazeera