Security challenges loom over Buhari’s re-election bid

Buhari has been criticised for failing to stop the violence, which according to some estimates has killed more than 2,000 since the start of this year.

It will be a key issue in central states, where the Muslim north meets the mainly Christian south, that typically swing between parties.

In Benue, the head of the state’s tribal leaders, Chief Edward Ujege, said Buhari “does not deserve a single vote… because he has failed to give us security”.

The conflict, which is driven by land and resources, has been seen largely through the prism of Nigeria’s ethnic and religious identity politics.

The president of the ethnic Tiv Youths Organisation, Timothy Hembaor, indicated patronage will play a part: people in Benue will back Benue’s APC governor, even if he moves party, he said.

Buhari “shouldn’t even come here to campaign”, he added.

– No political will –

Amaechi Nwokolo, from the Roman Institute of International Studies in Abuja, said Buhari, whose candidacy still needs to be endorsed by his party, had already “most likely lost the vote in Benue”, an APC state.

“He may not win in many of the states that have gone up in flames and many people are going to use that against him around the country,” added the security analyst.

Ndi Kato, a campaigner for indigenous people in the central states, said the attacks put a way of life under threat and the government’s lack of action had caused outrage.

“We feel we cannot have four more years of this,” she said, adding there was “zero political will” to end the violence, which has made tens of thousands people homeless.

“All things being equal the Middle Belt won’t be voting for this government. However, we don’t know who they will be voting for — and that is another problem.”