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| Nigerian general election, 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2011 Nigerian general election |
| Country | Federal Republic of Nigeria |
| Type | Presidential and legislative |
| Election date | 16 April 2011 (Presidential), 9 & 26 April 2011 (Legislative) |
| Previous election | 2007 Nigerian general election, 2007 |
| Next election | 2015 Nigerian general election, 2015 |
Nigerian general election, 2011
The 2011 national vote in the Federal Republic of Nigeria comprised presidential, Senate and House of Representatives contests that reshaped the political landscape dominated by the People's Democratic Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, and the Congress for Progressive Change. Held amid tensions from the 2007 cycle, the election involved the Independent National Electoral Commission and drew intense domestic and international observation from entities such as the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States. Outcomes affected relations with actors like the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and regional blocs including the African Union.
The election followed political developments including the 2007 transition that placed Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and later Goodluck Jonathan at the center of national leadership, with disputes involving figures such as Muhammadu Buhari and Nuhu Ribadu. Tensions traced to events in the Niger Delta conflict, the rise of Boko Haram, and political realignments among state governors like Rotimi Amaechi and Bola Tinubu. Economic debates referenced the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and oil-producing Delta State politics, while constitutional questions echoed in the Supreme Court of Nigeria and discussions about electoral reform led to amendments debated in the National Assembly.
The presidency used a modified two-round system defined by the 1999 Constitution, requiring plurality and distribution thresholds across states including Lagos State and Kano State. Legislative elections for the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives of Nigeria followed single-member plurality rules administered by the INEC. Legal challenges invoked jurisdictions such as the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, while international legal standards advanced by the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations influenced observers' assessments. Electoral jurisprudence referenced prior rulings like those involving the Election Petition Tribunal.
Principal campaigns were led by the PDP candidate Goodluck Jonathan, the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate Nuhu Ribadu (note: Nuhu Ribadu later aligned differently), the Congress for Progressive Change candidate Muhammadu Buhari, and the Labour Party affiliates. Coalition dynamics included alliances with regional leaders such as James Ibori and Orji Uzor Kalu, while civil society figures like Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (as an anti-corruption symbol) and NGOs such as Transition Monitoring Group mobilized voters. Campaign rhetoric referenced national security incidents in Maiduguri, oil pipeline sabotage in Bayelsa State, and debates over fiscal policy involving the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Security concerns shaped logistics in states including Borno State, Yobe State, and Adamawa State where Boko Haram's insurgency threatened polling. Violence and ballot disruptions occurred in precincts across Rivers State and Delta State, prompting deployment of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army. INEC faced criticism for late distribution of materials and the use of biometric measures; observers from the European Union and African Union reported both significant improvements and irregularities. Legal observers referenced the Electoral Act framework while international monitors like delegations from the United Kingdom and the United States assessed credibility.
Official results declared Goodluck Jonathan the winner with a nationwide plurality and sufficient spread per constitutional rules, while the PDP retained large majorities in the Senate of Nigeria and the House of Representatives of Nigeria. Turnout varied, with higher participation reported in Anambra State and lower rates in conflict-affected Borno State; observers compared figures to previous cycles such as the 2007 and 2003 contests. Prominent losers included the Congress for Progressive Change's Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential tally, precipitating judicial petitions lodged at the Election Petition Tribunal and appeals to the Court of Appeal.
Domestic reactions ranged from acceptance by senior PDP figures and endorsements by regional leaders like Goodluck Jonathan's allies to protests by opposition coalitions including the Action Congress of Nigeria and Congress for Progressive Change. International responses included congratulations from the United States, evaluations by the European Union Election Observation Mission, and commentary from the African Union Commission. Post-election legal challenges led to high-profile cases before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and political realignments saw defections among governors between parties such as the PDP and the All Progressives Congress precursors.
The 2011 contest influenced subsequent reforms in the INEC procedures and prompted amendments to the Electoral Act debated in the National Assembly. It affected trajectories of figures like Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and reshaped engagements with multinational institutions including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Security policy toward insurgencies such as Boko Haram intensified, while civil society groups like the Transition Monitoring Group and media outlets such as the Vanguard and ThisDay continued to influence electoral accountability.
Category:Elections in Nigeria