Understanding Nigeria’s Pivotal 2023 Election

Nigeria will hold Africa’s biggest election in February 2023 when the continent’s most populous state selects a new president. The election will be a test of the country’s democratic progress since the end of military rule in 1999. It will also be a bellwether of how the “Giant of Africa” will navigate a series of evolving economic, social, and security challenges amid democratic backsliding in the region.

This contest differs from previous elections in many notable regards. First, a new electoral act is in place along with a first-of-its-kind digital election register that will be tested in a country with a history of widespread vote manipulation. Second, the playing field is more diverse and divided, with a third-party candidate from a historically marginalized region challenging the two long-dominant parties. Third, the youth are increasingly vocal in the aftermath of anti-police-brutality protests that swept the country in 2020. All the while, global macroeconomic shocks and high-profile terror attacks have exacerbated Nigeria’s fragility, prompting heated debate about whether the country needs experienced leadership or a clean slate to weather the storm. An uptick in election-related violence and ethnically charged rhetoric throughout the year has led observers to warn that the country may face its most volatile political contest in over a decade.

Please join Hudson Institute for a discussion with three of Nigeria’s leading researchers to understand what is at stake in the 2023 election and what implications this election will have for West Africa.