In Jos, north of Abuja, a city marked by deadly clashes between the two communities a decade ago, activists from different parties are trying to convince their neighbors.

What weight will religion weigh in the vote of Nigerians?

Supporters of ACP candidate Bola Tinubu gathered at the Teslim Balogun sat in Lagos on February 21, 2023. AFP - SAMUEL ALABI

Text by: RFI Follow

3 mins

In Jos, north of Abuja, a city marked by deadly clashes between the two communities a decade ago, activists from different parties are trying to convince their neighbors.

With our special correspondent in Jos,

Amélie Tulet

On one of the arteries of Jos, a campaign caravan of candidate Bola Tinubu distributes small bottles of detergent in the colors of the APC.

In Jos, Plateau State, bottles of detergents distributed to residents by APC campaign teams party to the outgoing administration, whose candidate, Bola Tinubu, is in the race for the Nigerian presidency this Saturday.

Usman Abubakar, on the other hand, goes door-to-door.

That his candidate and his running mate are both Muslims is not an obstacle.

“

The local APC campaign manager is a Christian.
We manage to convince many Christians.
Just this morning I told a lot of people to vote APC on the basis of jurisdiction.

The Tinubu camp promises to restore Nigeria's economy and bring hope to people.

Yasir Rabiu is an activist for Atiku Abubakar's PDP.

He had overtaken Muhammadu Buhari in Plateau State four years ago.

“

Nigeria is a multicultural state.
Our candidate is a Muslim and his running mate is a Christian.
Everyone can feel represented

,” he says.

In Congo Junction, a predominantly Muslim district, Bello Dauda Gana takes care of the campaign of the Hausa-Fulani who militate for the Christian Peter Obi.

“

In my community, we raise awareness.
If they see Peter Obi as a Nigerian from the south, who is not a man from the north, we tell them “no, we are talking about politics, not religion”.
We explain to them: the policy has changed, it's not like before!

Bello Dauda Gana is not limited to his neighborhood and plans to shine in the city until the last hour of the campaign to convince people to go and vote on Saturday.

Of the four main candidates, three are Muslim: Bola Tinubu (APC), Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Rabiu Kwankwasso (NNPP).

Peter Obi (Labour Party) is a Christian.

■

A last meeting for Bola Tinubu, the ACP candidate

With our correspondent in Lagos,

Liza Fabbian

The governor of Lagos at the microphone, Muhammadu Buhari the point raised, a stadium of 25,000 seats almost full and a city cordoned off by the security forces: Bola Tinubu has once again proven that he is at home, in the economic capital of Nigeria .

Iyawo is surrounded by dozens of other women, who work like her for the public waste management company: “

Tinubu likes people to go to school.
He repaired our roads, built hospitals.
He has done a lot for Lagos.

For many supporters present in the Surulere stadium, the community factor also plays an important role, as for the young Ganiel: “

I want to vote for a Yoruba.
I no longer want to vote for someone who is not from the same tribe as me.
The incumbent president was Hausa and Fulani...Why would I vote for another tribe again?

The Labor Party candidate, Peter Obi, is however acclaimed by part of the youth.

But Mr. Ola sees limits in this candidacy: “

Peter Obi is not a bad candidate at all, but people find him opportunistic.
He left his party to join the PDP, from there he joined the PDP... Bola Tinubu remained faithful to him in the APC.
And over the years, he has supported good candidates, younger than him.

During his long political career, Bola Tinubu has effectively established himself as the true "godfather" of Nigerian politics to such an extent that he is now convinced that it is "

What weight will religion weigh in the vote of Nigerians?

What weight will religion weigh in the vote of Nigerians?

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