BERLINER AFRIKAKREIS

 

The Initiative Southern Africa (INISA) and the Society for International Development (SID-Berlin) cordially invite you in cooperation with the Afrikahaus:

 

Nigeria and the Presidential Election

Afrika-Haus Berlin, Bochumer Str. 25, 10555 Berlin (U-Bahn: Turmstr.)

 

Speaker:

Tolu Ogunlesi (Journalist, West Africa Editor at The Africa Report, Winner of the CNN Multichoice African Journalism Award, Lagos)  

Dietrich Becker (Head of Division, Central and Western Africa, Federal Foreign Office, Berlin)

 

Chair: Dr. Peter Ay (Society for International Development, SID-Berlin)

 

Nigeria´s 5^th presidential election since the end of military rule in 1999 was scheduled for 14 February 2015, and has just now been postponed by 6 weeks for security reasons. President Goodluck Jonathan (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) will run for re-election but faces a serious challenge by main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari (All Progressives Congress, APC). The opinion in the country seems divided about the achievements in office of the incumbent president as well as about his chances to win the upcoming election. How were the election campaigns conducted so far? What are the pressing topics on the political agenda? What makes Nigerians vote, how will they align and what alliances of the political parties are to be expected? To what extent will the election influence Nigeria´s role as a potential regional democratic hegemon in Sub-Saharan Africa?

 

The discussion will be in English. No registration necessary.