A delegation of United States-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) has projected that the emergence of Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso may force the 2023 election into a re-run.
The delegation made this projection while presenting its first joint pre-elections assessment statement to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
Obi will be flying the Labour Party banner, while Kwankwaso is the flag-bearer of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 presidential election. The two third force candidates have continued to garner massive followership; with Kwankwaso attracting more supporters in Kano and other neighbouring states in the North-West, while a large portion of the young population continue to push Obi’s case, particularly on social media.
Led by Secretary of State for Ohio, Frank LaRose, the NDI/IRI delegation visited Nigeria from July 13-22 to measure the country’s preparedness ahead of the upcoming 2023 elections.
According to the Institutes, with Obi and Kwankwaso on the ballot, the 2023 elections would mark a clear departure from some of the political dynamics that usually define elections in Nigeria. if a third party draws sufficient support, a runoff presidential election could be a real possibility for the first time since the transition to democracy, adding complexity to the 2023 elections, they stated.
The report described Obi and Kwankwaso as viable third forces and that their entrance into the presidential contest has triggered the excitement of many Nigerian youths.
The Institutes also added that the 2022 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the first elections conducted by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) since the passage of the revised electoral law, indicated the positive impact of the initiatives by the electoral umpire to improve results’ transparency against 2019.
They maintained that the 2023 elections present a significant opportunity to consolidate Nigerias democracy, especially since the 2022 Electoral Act enjoys a wide stakeholder support and has elevated public confidence in the commitment of INEC to deliver elections next year.
