Election campaign hits London with Obi, Kwankwaso and Inec chair to speak at Chatham House

NIGERIA'S ongoing election campaign comes to the UK big time next week with two of the presidential candidates and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu all speaking at Chatham House in London.

Next month, Nigeria goes to the polls, holding presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly elections as well as electing members of the 36 state houses of assemblies. In the presidential race, the frontrunners include former Lagos State governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and Peter Obi.

Last month, Asiwaju Tinubu spoke at Chatham House earlier this month, so too did Alhaji Abubakar and next week Governor Obi and Senator Kwankwaso fill follow suit. Chatham House, officially known as the Royal Institute of International Affairs, said that the two presidential candidates and Inec chairman are expected to speak at a research event billed for next week.

According to Chatham House, the event is part of a series of events and outputs examining Nigeria’s 2023 elections and political developments. Kicking off on January 16, the programme will get going with Governor Obi outlining his vision for policy and governance reforms in Nigeria.

This will include the priorities for tackling deep-rooted insecurity and corruption and measures to promote social and political mobility for Nigerian citizens. Professor Yakubu will then discuss preparations and priorities for ensuring electoral integrity and inclusivity on January 17, where he will outline the key challenges and plans for the conduct of the elections, including security and the use of new technological systems.

Then, the following day on January 18, Senator Kwankwaso will discuss his policy ideas for improving systems and services in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the country’s education sector and the wider priorities for ensuring secure and inclusive service delivery.