Like the country and its frontline presidential candidates; Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, Labor Party (LP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), among others , defy the odds, 2023 The presidential election is likely to be the most complex and closely watched election on the African continent.

With the elections taking place in a period of depression, the Nigerian electorate is sure to vote for that candidate with a rich pedigree and a Midas touch, to tackle Nigeria’s many problems, from economic woes to the unemployment rate, poverty , insecurity among others.

Speaking about his chances of victory, Senator Ayo Arise drew his conclusions from the political realities that he describes as local, saying that the enormous power of incumbency cannot disappear in presidential contests, even more so when the party is presenting a formidable candidate like Asiwaju. Tinubu ball that has what it takes to transform the country.

“Contenders often ride on the back of the government in power to get into the nooks and crannies of their constituents. These are the facts available to me. There is a belief that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Tinubu, should be able to secure his base in the south-west and then add other states to it to ensure victory.”

Arise added that the events that shaped the year are political, saying: We had many hopefuls for president of Nigeria, until we came to Eagle Square and the presidential standard bearer emerged, that is one of the issues that affected this year 2022. When it arises the candidate, we are able to move significantly to become a force. When we talk about the forces, you talk about Asiwaju Tinubu, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and in total we have 18 presidential candidates”.

For the former PDP undersecretary for national publicity, Diran Odeyemi, “elections are always very difficult to predict in Nigeria, before now, elections in Nigeria have always been between the APC and the PDP, but with the rise of the third force represented by Peter Obi, and with the way the campaign has gone, it is always difficult to read the minds of Nigerians on where they are going to cast their vote.

“Practically, the three main candidates have possibilities and, at the same time, they have their crisis. In the PDP the 5-G governors are still there with their agitation, which more or less portends danger for us in the PDP. At APC, the Muslim/Muslim ticket issue is one that refuses to go away. In the Labor Party there is the problem of structure.

“So, it’s very hard to predict, but overall and the way things are going, Atiku is likely to pull it off.”