Battle lines drawn for Nigeria’s 2015 election

Nigeria enters the new year facing daunting challenges: the security situation in the Boko Haram-blighted north-east shows no signs of improvement, Niger Delta issues remain unresolved, and a global oil crash has undermined government budgets that depend on hydrocarbons exports for 75% of revenues. These negative factors will affect a political environment where the vast majority of states will be up for grabs in gubernatorial and legislative elections on 14 February, and President Goodluck Jonathan seeks a second (and a half) term of office, meaning that, for the first time since democracy was restored, the presidency will not necessarily change hands at the same time as the jobs of governors and MPs.