With just five days left before Nigeria’s general elections on Feb. 25, citizens are weighing up their choices as they prepare to select a new president. Expectedly, most voters are expecting a leader who puts the country’s interests ahead of their own personal gains.
The major contenders are Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress v (APC).
The leading candidates have all served the government in different capacities. While Atiku served as Nigeria’s vice president between 1999 and 2007, Tinubu was governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, and Obi was governor of Anambra State between 2006 and 2014.
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Although they have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing whenever the allegation of fraud is levied against them, Battabox understands that the three contenders have in the past been enmeshed in financial scandals.
Tinubu was in the past accused of tax evasion and money laundering in his dealings with Lagos State. When questioned about how he made his wealth, he gave vague references to inheritance and investment, and suggested that those asking were ‘envious.’
Atiku’s name appears 60 times in a report by the United States Senate on foreign corruption, where he was tied to money laundering offenses.
Obi was among the public servants alleged in the Pandora papers exposé to have committed tax evasion. He, however, denied any illegality and segued the discussion into his penchant for ‘saving money’ as a public official.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, responsible for organizing elections, has started distributing materials across states and security operatives have begun mobilization to ensure free and fair elections.
