Buhari’s re-election bid kicks off Nigeria’s presidential race

– Tolerable alliance –

In the meantime, Buhari has been putting his house in order, reaching out to estranged leaders who helped him to victory in 2015.

Last month, Buhari made his first official visit to Lagos, where he attended an event to mark the 66th birthday of Bola Tinubu, a master political strategist in the swing region of southwest Nigeria.

In a cheeky remark reflecting the turbulent but politically necessary alliance, Tinubu thanked Buhari for “tolerating” him.

But for now, Nigeria is waiting for Buhari to return.

“I think the key question is going to be how long he’s going to stay in London,” Anku said.

“If he ends up having an extended period in London, whether it is for health or another reason, it will start to change the tide.”