Nigeria's 2021 presidential election is just around the corner and the competition has been fierce. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he has stood by his promise to attend the Senate Democratic Caucus Lunch. One of the leading contenders for the presidency is Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, 70, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, popularly known as a kingmaker in Nigerian politics. Supporters of the APC have already taken to the streets to celebrate the potential of Tinubu winning the election. However, Ndi Kato, Lagos state governor and Labour Party's presidential campaign coordinator, has been adamant about his party's chances of winning the election.
In the run-up to the election, there have been multiple political parties involved. In addition to the APC and Labour Party, other parties include the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). There are also two vice presidential candidates, Peter Obi of the APC and Yemi Osinbajo of the PDP.
The election has seen an unexpected mayoral runoff in the country's third largest city, Ibadan. A Republican-turned-Democrat, Rick Caruso, leaned on the issue of security to win the election. Caruso's victory has been seen as a sign of the growing power of the Democratic Party in the state.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is seen as one of the most influential figures in Nigerian politics. He has been appointed as a national leader of the APC and has been involved in the appointment of every successive governor of Lagos state up until now. He has built a political machine that is seen as a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming presidential election.
The election has also had implications for the country's judicial system. A Supreme Court ruling recently declared that the APC has the right to field candidates in the 2021 presidential election. The ruling could have other broad political implications, allowing Tinubu and his allies to reshape their efforts to court one of the Democratic Party's main constituencies.
The competition for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination has also been gaining momentum. Polls show that many Republicans and Democratic-leaning independents said they want the party to nominate someone who could beat President Joe Biden in the next election.
The presidential election of 1824 was the first one in which there is a possibility that a candidate from Alaska could have won. This is due to the fact that Alaska was part of the United States at the time. However, it is unlikely that a candidate from Alaska will win the 2021 presidential election in Nigeria.
