Over 73 million Nigerians are electing their president Saturday in an election whose outgoing Goodluck Jonathan is favored, and show whether the giant nation has finally turned the page of the violent and fraudulent elections.
A week after the parliamentary elections that had been postponed twice but finally took place largely in a calm, voters are eligible to vote from 8:00 local time (0700 GMT).
Goodluck Jonathan, 53, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) training that dominates the political scene and has won every presidential election since the return to civilian rule in 1999, with a share ahead of analysts.
Especially since the opposition has failed this week to form an alliance to face him.
But the incumbent could be challenged by Muhammadu Buhari, former military dictator 69 years old who is seeking the highest office for the third time since 1999.
Muslim from the north, it can count on broad support in this region face Jonathan, a Christian of the Niger Delta, the southern oil-producing countries, the largest producer of crude oil from Africa.
Nuhu Ribadu, who led the anti-corruption agency in Nigeria, and Ibrahim Shekarau, outgoing governor of Kano State (North), two other candidates are considered important in this election.
Nigeria is currently engaged in a series of ballots.April 26 will be the elections of governors of the federation of 150 million people as well as regional assembled.
The 2007 general elections were marred by fraud in the view of most observers, and efforts have been made to ensure that things go differently this year, thanks to the work of a new electoral commission headed by a respected teacher .
The local and international observers have praised the good performance of legislative Saturday, raising hopes of a peaceful presidential election.
However, at least 35 people were killed in bombings and other election-related violence since late last week, according to election commission
The borders were closed Thursday night and had to reopen Monday. Restrictions on vehicular traffic have been imposed for Saturday.
