The ‘2019 Nigerian Presidential Election Forum’, planned to take place this month, has been called off due to changes in the schedules of attendees.

Posting on the Cambridge ACS Facebook page, Semilore Delano, events officer for the university’s African Caribbean Society, apologised for the cancellation, explaining that “the panellists all had to change their schedules to focus on local campaigns.”

The event was due to host five candidates for the Nigerian presidency. Included among them was the current president Muhammadu Buhari and former vice-president Akitu Abubakar, who lead the two major parties. The presidential election is due to take place on 16th February 2019.

Cambridge ACS have stated that those who have already purchased tickets for the event will be refunded, and that “we will continue to work to bring you events that are guided by the Three E’s, the CUACS ethos - to Educate, Entertain and Empower the African and Caribbean Community.”

In the context of debates surrounding voting rights for Nigeria’s foreign diaspora, the event aimed to facilitate an international discussion on Nigeria’s economic policies and prospects. Nigeria’s international diaspora contributes the highest of any sub-Saharan African country in remittances to the home country.

Some commentators had however questioned why the event was not taking place in Nigeria, and chaired by a Nigerian moderator, rather than at a British institution.