China looms large over Nigeria's presidential election

President Buhari has defended closer ties with Beijing amid opposition allegations

20230221 Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar

Nigerian ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu, left, and opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar are among those vying for the presidency in the Feb. 25 election. (Source photos by AFP/Jiji) 

ROBERT BOCIAGA, Contributing writer

KAMPALA, Uganda -- China is looming large in the final stages of the closely fought presidential election campaign in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and a leading oil producer.

The government of outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari has defended pursuing closer ties with Beijing and has denied opposition allegations that it is using Chinese technology for censorship and surveillance.

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