Nigerians are anticipating an announcement by president Buhari with regards the upcoming elections. A swell of rumours suggesting that Buhari will call the election off or postpone the plebiscite spreading on social media.

Violence, stampedes, deaths and the use of social media as a tool to spread misleading information have been a hallmark of the campaign to elect Nigeria’s next president.

As the 2019 Nigerian Presidential Election is drawing to a close accusations over the abuse of social media to spread misleading information have characterised Nigeria’s political landscape.

Both of the main political parties have accused their rivals of the spearheading and spreading of disinformation.

The incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and his main rival, Atiku Abubakar, running for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), have both been the target of videos containing dubious or inaccurate information, being shared online.

But the deaths, the numerous electoral inadequacies and the upsurge of violence have left many political commentators speculating as to whether today’s anticipated announcement by Buhari will be a platform for him to postpone what some see as an election that Nigeria is not prepared for.