The posters lining the roads of Lagos show the face of a smiling, bespectacled 70-year-old above a slogan promising renewed hope. Vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pedestrians and drivers negotiating the chaos of the Nigerian commercial capital are told. Vote for peace, justice, unity.

On Saturday, the 6 million inhabitants of Lagos who have collected their voting cards will have to decide whether Tinubu and his ruling All Progressives Congress might fulfil any of these promises. So too will another estimated 81 million voters among the 220 million inhabitants of Africa’s most populous country. Their collective decision will determine the result of Nigeria’s seventh presidential elections since the end of military rule in 1999.

Few doubt the importance of the poll. Analysts speak of a crucial turning point after several years of worsening insecurity and acute economic troubles. Many see a credible poll and progress in tackling the country’s multiple problems as key to stability across a swath of Africa.

“It’s a really very important election and one that will be watched very keenly by people outside Nigeria,” said Murithi Mutiga, the International Crisis Group’s programme director for Africa.

The election is as unpredictable as it is significant. For the first time in decades, a third candidate has a credible chance of unseating those representing Nigeria’s two dominant parties: Tinubu for the APC and 76-year-old Atiku Abubakar for the People’s Democratic party. This is Peter Obi, 61, a businessman turned politician, whose dynamism and promise of a “fresh breath of air” has won much of the youth vote and a substantial lead in many polls.

But it is Tinubu who is seen by analysts as the favourite to win Lagos and nationally too. The almost total lack of activity at Tinubu’s sprawling mansion in the plush neighbourhood of Ikoyi and at the APC’s headquarters on Friday suggest the hugely wealthy veteran politician believes they are right.

“Obi has been able to make some inroads in Lagos … but Tinubu is a larger than life figure in Lagos politics and it is very difficult to imagine him not winning there … but that does not make it impossible,” said Leena Koni Hoffmann-Atar, from the Chatham House thinktank in London.

Known as the “Godfather of Lagos”, Tinubu fought against repressive military rule, then won two terms as Lagos governor from 1999 to 2007. He won praise for taming the city’s appalling traffic, rubbish and organised crime and a series of high-profile infrastructure projects are still seen as testament to his efficiency by many in the city.

Since then Tinubu has overseen the choice of his successors and played a key role as a kingmaker at a national level too. Many see him as a “power behind the throne” of Muhammadu Buhari, the outgoing two-term president...

CoronaVirusRelo:
It’s easy to know that Tinubu would win!


Some unscrupulous lots just using emotions to hope for the impossible.

Malory:
Purchased prediction.

Malory:
Only criminals and people with questionable character will vote for Thiefnubuu.

Malory:
Purchased prediction.

CoronaVirusRelo:


E choke!

You fvckin pained!

CoronaVirusRelo:


Too early to start wailing!

Asiwaju will assign 8 years for you to wail.

sunboy:


The same Chatham you were all praising few weeks ago not get paid to comment on Tinubu’s victory ✌🏾✌🏾✌🏾

Malory:
Get ready for Obi's presidency.

ArewaQuitessenc:
Nice joke, aside from the North west where Tinubu will have a good showing, he's getting no bloc votes here in the North.

CoronaVirusRelo:


On Twitter or Nairaland!

Aldol:
Obi is not popular on the street only on Twitter and nairaland. The feelers from everywhere is that Tinubu will win

Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains frontrunner for president but a new voice has captured the youth vote.

The election is as unpredictable as it is significant. For the first time in decades, a third candidate has a credible chance of unseating those representing Nigeria’s two dominant parties

This is Peter Obi, 61, a businessman turned politician, whose dynamism and promise of a “fresh breath of air” has won much of the youth vote and a substantial lead in many polls.

Aldol:
Obi is not popular on the street only on Twitter and nairaland. The feelers from everywhere is that Tinubu will win

socialmediaman:
Too late for nonsense! Someone that isn’t sure of winning Lagos

ArewaQuitessenc:
Nice joke, aside from the North west where Tinubu will have a good showing, he's getting no bloc votes here in the North.

Malory:
Purchased prediction.

Savedday2:
Nigeria is the most blessed country of the world but, our greedy, self centered, useless and wicked leaders have always been the enemies of Nigeria.

Today, we go show them pepper!