Buhari seeks a second term

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking re-election next year, made political history as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting President at the ballot box. However, since his election just over three years ago, the former military ruler has faced persistent rumours of ill-health, criticism of his handling of the economy and security, and questions over his campaign to root out corruption. The presidency last week said the 75-year-old leader would seek a second straight term. However, a report on the News24 site notes that health concerns have been persistent throughout his tenure. Another problem facing Buhari has been the economy. Nigeria slipped into recession in 2016 with sky-high inflation, which has been steadily coming down. On the security front, Buhari declared in December 2015 that Boko Haram's jihadists were ‘technically’ defeated. But the group still stages deadly attacks on both military targets and civilians, and the insurgency has spilled over into neighbouring countries. On corruption, there have been several headline-making arrests but no high-profile convictions, and it is unclear whether Buhari's zeal for transparency and accountability extends to the wider political establishment.