2015 Nigerian general election

2015 Nigerian general election
Election name	2015 Nigerian general election
Country	Nigeria
Type	presidential and legislative
Previous election	2011 Nigerian general election
Previous year	2011
Next election	2019 Nigerian general election
Next year	2019
Election date	28–29 March 2015

2015 Nigerian general election

The 2015 Nigerian general election took place on 28–29 March 2015 to elect the President and members of the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives of Nigeria. The contest, featuring candidates from the All Progressives Congress, the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria), and smaller parties, represented a pivotal moment for the Fourth Republic (Nigeria), against a backdrop of security challenges involving Boko Haram and regional tensions in Borno State, Adamawa State, and Yobe State.

Background

Nigeria entered the 2015 election cycle after the completion of the 2011 electoral term of President Goodluck Jonathan, whose administration succeeded the tenure of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua following the 2007 Nigerian general election and the 2011 Nigerian presidential election. Political realignment prior to the vote was marked by the formation of the All Progressives Congress from a merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. Meanwhile, the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) sought to defend incumbency amid debates about succession, economic policy tied to Nigerian oil politics, and the national response to Boko Haram insurgency. Regional power dynamics involved actors from Lagos State, Kano State, Kaduna State, and the Niger Delta, with prominent figures such as Muhammadu Buhari, Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar, and Nuhu Ribadu influencing party strategies.

Electoral system

The presidency was decided by a modified two-round system under the Electoral Act 2010 (Nigeria), requiring a candidate to obtain a majority of votes and at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja). The Independent National Electoral Commission administered the presidential ballot and simultaneous elections for the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives of Nigeria, which used first-past-the-post single-member districts. Legal and constitutional frameworks invoked included provisions from the Constitution of Nigeria (1999) and jurisprudence from the Supreme Court of Nigeria regarding electoral petitions and candidate eligibility, with oversight interactions involving the National Assembly (Nigeria) and international observers from groups like the European Union Election Observation Mission, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Economic Community of West African States.

Campaigns and major parties

Major campaigns were conducted by the All Progressives Congress with candidate Muhammadu Buhari and running mate Yemi Osinbajo, and the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) with incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and running mate Namadi Sambo. Other parties included the Labour Party (Nigeria), the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and the Social Democratic Party (Nigeria), featuring figures such as Kingsley Moghalu and Junaid Mohammed in broader debates. Campaign themes covered anti-corruption narratives tied to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, security policy linked to operations like Operation Lafiya Dole, and economic plans referencing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Central Bank of Nigeria, and fiscal concerns in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano City. Major rallies and debates took place across venues in Lagos State, Rivers State, Kano State, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja).

Conduct and security

Conduct of the elections was heavily affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, prompting military involvement, states of emergency in parts of Borno State, and security operations coordinated with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and state police commands. Logistical challenges for the Independent National Electoral Commission included delays in the delivery of voter materials, concerns about the Permanent Voter Card system, and disputes over the use of electronic transmission versus manual collation as seen in previous contests like the 2011 Nigerian general election. International observer delegations from the European Union Election Observation Mission, the Commonwealth of Nations, the African Union, and the Economic Community of West African States monitored polling, while domestic civil society groups such as Transition Monitoring Group and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room reported on turnout and irregularities. Incidents of violence and targeted attacks disrupted voting in parts of Yobe State, Adamawa State, and Borno State, and security advisories involved coordination with the National Security Adviser (Nigeria).

Results

Initial results showed a decisive victory for Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, who secured an outright win by achieving a plurality and the required geographic distribution across the states, unseating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria). The Independent National Electoral Commission announced outcomes for the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives of Nigeria that reflected significant gains by the All Progressives Congress, affecting legislative leadership positions such as the President of the Senate of Nigeria and the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Nigeria). International reactions included congratulations from leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and regional governments in the Economic Community of West African States, while election integrity assessments by the European Union Election Observation Mission and the Commonwealth Observer Group noted both improvements and persistent challenges.

Aftermath and impact

The electoral turnover marked the first time in the Fourth Republic (Nigeria) that an incumbent president lost a bid for re-election, altering power dynamics among political elites from Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria and influencing subsequent policy on security, anti-corruption, and fiscal management involving institutions like the Office of the National Security Adviser (Nigeria), the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. Legal challenges to results were addressed in the Election Petition Tribunal (Nigeria) and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, setting precedents for judicial review of electoral disputes. The 2015 outcome reshaped party alignments ahead of the 2019 Nigerian general election, affected the composition of state governments in Kogi State, Anambra State, Osun State, and Ekiti State, and influenced international engagement with Nigeria from actors including the United Nations, the African Union, and bilateral partners such as the United States Department of State and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Category:Elections in Nigeria