The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) Africa is maintaining its prediction that Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), will win the February 16 presidential election.
On Friday, EIU Africa said though the margin of victory is getting narrower as the election approaches, Atiku is still expected to win the election.
“NigeriaDecides2019 : Less than 2 weeks before #Nigeria‘s presidential election. Abubakar has floated idea of corruption amnesty. It is arguably an impolitic time for such a delicate proposal,” EIU Africa tweeted.
“Abubakar is hard-pressed to convince voters that he is a clean politician, having been on the receiving end of numerous graft allegations in the past.
“We retain out forecast for Abubakar to win, but expected margin of victory is narrowing as the poll approaches.”
In 2015, the magazine also predicted victory for Muhammadu Buhari over Goodluck Jonathan.
The research unit of London-based The Economist Magazine had said in 2018 that the PDP will win the 2019 election.
“Abubakar’s pledge is to reinvigorate the economy with pro-market reforms. Both candidates are from the northern Nigeria, where Buhari’s support base lies, presaging a fierce contest there,” EIU had said.
“With the vote likely to be split in the North, Abubakar will find it easier to garner support from the country’s south, which has traditionally been a safe haven for the PDP.
