22 Feb 2019; DW: Nigeria's second attempt to elect a new president started Saturday with the polls opening at 8 a.m. local time (0700 UTC). All eyes are on the nearly 120,000 polling stations to see if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has overcome logistical difficulties to deliver the required number of ballot boxes, papers and results sheets — and on time. IT specialists reconfigured some 180,000 machines needed to check biometric identity cards and allow people to vote.
The general election was postponed by a week just hours before polls were due to open on the morning of February 16 with officials blaming logistical challenges. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) accused each other of conspiring with INEC to rig the result.
President Muhammadu Buhari urged Nigerians in a televised address on Friday morning to "go out and vote," promising that there would be adequate security. Buhari is running for a second term and asked Nigerians to cast aside doubt and have faith in INEC.
"Do not be afraid of rumors of violence and unrest. Our security agencies have worked diligently to ensure that adequate security measures are in place. You will be able to vote in an atmosphere of openness and peace, devoid of fear from threat or intimidation," he said.
However, just hours before polls opened, suspected Islamist insurgents attacked the northeast town of Geidam, forcing residents to flee.
Out of a total of 73 candidates running for the presidency, former vice president Atiku Abubakar represents the biggest threat to Buhari. Abubakar, who is running for the main opposition PDP, made a similar appeal to voters through his Twitter feed on Thursday night. "This Saturday, a vote for PDP is a vote to get Nigeria working again. Come out, vote and #DefendYourVote," Abubakar said in a tweet accompanied by a video of his rallies.
Nigerians are still divided over who deserves the top job. The majorty of voters are under 35 and many young Nigerians want Buhari out.
"A lot of us are not happy," one young woman told DW. "There is bloodshed, the government is not doing a lot [to fix] what is happening in this country."
But others think Buhari deserves a second term.
"He has fought corruption and he has actually provided direction," a young male voter in Abuja told DW.
Despite the record number of registered voters, militant group Boko Haram has warned people not to cast their ballots. The group and its offshoot, Islamic State in West Africa Province, have carried out deadly sporadic raids in the northeastern Borno state. The election campaign has coincided with fresh violence in northern Nigeria, blamed on criminal gangs as well as Boko Haram jihadists. More than 200 people have died since the start of this month alone.
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