2015 Nigerian general election
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68,833,476 registered voters[2] 25% in each of 2/3 States + Majority[3] votes needed to win | ||||||||||||||
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Nigeria portal |
The Nigerian general election of 2015 was the 5th quadrennial election to be held since the end of military rule in 1999.[5] Voters elected the President and members to the House of Representatives and the Senate. The incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan sought his second and final term.
The elections were first scheduled to be held on 14 February 2015. However, the electoral commission postponed it by six weeks to 28 March due to the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country.[1][6] The government closed its land and sea borders from midnight on 25 March until the end of the polling date.[7] Elections were later extended to 29 March due to delays.[8]
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa and also has its largest economy. This is the most expensive elections ever to be held on the continent.[9]
Presidential election
Section 134 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that a presidential candidate will be duly elected after attaining both the highest number of votes cast; and has received at least a quarter of the votes at each of at least two-thirds of all the states and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. If no candidate satisfies the requirement, a second election will be held between the two leading candidates within seven days from the pronouncement of the result.[10]
Party primaries
PDP
It had long been assumed that incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan would run for re-election, as despite declining approval ratings, he was still thought to be popular and had several high-profile supporters.[11] Jonathan officially confirmed his candidacy on 11 November at a rally in Abuja, announcing to cheering supporters:[12]
"After seeking the face of God, and in the quiet of my family, and after listening to the clarion call of Nigerians, I have accepted to present myself to serve a second term."
Jonathan ran unopposed in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) primaries on 10 December 2014, receiving the nomination of the party. However, this was against an unwritten rule that the PDP's presidential candidacy should alternate between Muslim northerners and Christian southerners, and opposition to Jonathan's candidacy had led to the defection of "dozens" of PDP MPs in the House of Representatives.[13]
APC
Prior to the elections[when?], the All Progressives Congress was formed as an alliance of four opposition parties, the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance. [citation needed]
Its primaries, also held on 10 December, were won by retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari,[13] who defeated Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha and newspaper editor Sam Nda Isaiah.[14] On December 17, APC chose Professor Yemi Osinbajo as the running mate of General M. Buhari.[citation needed]
As of February 2015, "Though the APC's voter base is in the north, it enjoys support all over the country, unlike the opposition in 2011."[15]
Candidate | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Muhammadu Buhari | 3,430 | 57.2 |
Rabiu Kwankwaso | 974 | 16.3 |
Atiku Abubakar | 954 | 15.9 |
Rochas Okorocha | 400 | 10.4 |
Sam Nda Isaiah | 10 | 0.2 |
Total | 5,992 | 100 |
Source: Nigerian Eye |
Candidates
Fourteen candidates will contest in the election.[16]
The main opposition Goodluck Jonathan faces is from Muhammadu Buhari of the APC. While inaugurating a 250-bed Orthopaedic Hospital in Wamakko, Buhari said: “We will stop corruption and make the ordinary people, the weak and the vulnerable our top priority.”[17]
National Assembly
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has dominated Nigerian politics since democracy was established in 1999. While opposition parties have failed to present any serious opposition in the past, the All Progressives Congress is now being viewed as a serious challenge to the PDP in national elections.[11]
Conduct
After a botched governor's election in Anambra State, there are serious concerns that the election will not go smoothly. The country's election commission has promised a better election process, and fair elections may help prevent the violence that has plagued previous Nigerian elections.[11] Ahead of the poll, Gallup notes that only 13% of Nigerians have confidence in the honesty of elections.[19]
The Socialist Party of Nigeria filed for registration as a political party in order to contest the election, but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused the registration. The SPN sued the INEC at the Federal High Court, claiming that INEC had failed to respond to their petition within 30 days as prescribed by law and that thus it would have to be registered automatically.[20]
Unsurprisingly, the presidential election is a trending topic on Twitter in Nigeria, one social media platform representing public opinion. Note that it is likely that PDP/GEJ simply has better social media support and that social media support is not representative of the population as a whole. According to Impact Social, based on data from 40,000 tweets, Facebook messages, blogs, and other internet outlets that mention PDP or GEJ, 70% of public opinion toward President Jonathan is positive, but messaging on the economy has taken up 6% of election conversation and is seen as a key PDP strength. Social media support for Buhari/APC is a bit “noisier” without a single issue leveraged by the campaign to gain traction: there is general frustration that the campaign lacks consistency, content and focus on the important issues at hand.[21]
In January 2015, the "#Bringbackourgirls group has raised the alarm over plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to exclude Chibok and some communities currently under the control of the Boko Haram from getting the permanent voter cards (PVCs) for the February elections."[22] Jonathan's already controversial handling of the situation was exacerbated by the twitter campaign that was launched in mid 2014, #BringBackJonathan2015. It was widely considered to be insensitive to the victims and their families. Jonathan eventually called for banners containing the hashtag to be taken down and asked for the hashtag to not be used.[23]
Postponement
On February 8, 2015, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced that "presidential and national assembly elections will now hold on March 28 while the governorship and state assemblies election will take place on April 11,[24]" due to security concerns related to the Boko Haram insurgency.
The postponement gives GEJ/PDP six extra weeks to rally support and undermine Muhammadu Buhari/APC. However, the postponement will also intensify the already bitter tension between not only the two political parties but also between the north (largely Muslim and pro-Buhari) and the south (largely Christian and pro-Jonathan), potentially leading to more violence. The postponement also raises questions about the military’s political neutrality.[4]
The postponement was called on the grounds of the INEC failing to deliver Permanent Voters’ Cards to millions (around 34%) of voters - reportedly only around 45.1mn of 68.8mn registered voters had received PVC’s. Additionally, on February 5, the National Council of State (chaired by President Jonathan) told INEC that it had just launched a major, decisive offensive against Boko Haram for six weeks. Due to the assets and resources that would go into this offensive, the military would be unable to provide security and logistics support for elections. This is a disputable claim, since election security is the primary responsibility of not the military (which should only act as support) but the police and civil defence corps. There is speculation over whether or not the postponement was motivated by politics rather than security and has raised questions over the political neutrality of the military as well as the independence of INEC.[4]
[25] Sambo Dasuki, Nigerian national security advisor, told the commission "that operations against Boko Haram militants meant the military "will be unable to provide adequate security" for the February 14 vote."[26] "Seventeen out of the 28 registered political parties" supported postponing the elections; 12 opposed, "including the leading opposition party, All Progressives Congress".[27] As of 30 January, "Boko Haram was in total occupation/complete control of 13 local governments (and other swathes of land) in Borno and 2 each in Yobe and Adamawa."[28] Critics of the postponement view it as a political move on behalf of GEJ/PDP rather than one made in the interest of national security. GEJ/PDP are losing traction due to gains by Boko Haram in January, economic strains from the slide in global oil price (Nigeria’s key export), and GEJ/PDP’s slow progress on fighting corruption and improving infrastructure. According to primaries in December 2014, Buhari/APC is viewed as more equipped to fight insecurity and corruption.
Critics have pointed out that even with the postponement, the Nigerian government is unlikely to re-establish control in all the affected areas by the date of the election. Distribution of the Permanent Voters' Card (PVC) has begun in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the three affected states. Estimates of the number of IDPs range from 868,235 to 1.5 million people, and is not yet clear how successful efforts will be to organize elections under these circumstances.[28] Key Government officials in Nigeria are publicly stating their opposition to the postponement. Senator Chris Ngige, for example, has accused the PDP of pressuring INEC to postpone the general elections.[29]
In addition to growing criticism within Nigeria, on February 8 Vanguard reported that "the United States said it was 'deeply disappointed' by the delay." US Secretary of State John Kerry, who had urged that elections be held on time, "[warned] the Nigerian government against using 'security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.'"[30] Additionally, the British Secretary of State, Phillip Hammond, has revealed that he, too, is disgruntled by the news: “The security situation should not be used as a reason to deny the Nigerian people from exercising their democratic rights. It is vital that the elections are kept on track and held as soon as possible.” [31] Deutsche Welle reported that "The postponement has been seen by critics as a ploy by President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDM) to buy time to sway support from the popular main opposition candidate and former military dictator, Muhammadu Buhari."[26]
As of 7 February 2015, threats of post-election violence from both sides remained a concern, given that hundreds of people died in the rioting that followed the 2011 Nigerian presidential election,[26] and rhetoric was running high. It was reported that "the Council of Imams and Ulamas in Kaduna State ... told the Niger Delta militants threatening chaos if President Goodluck Jonathan loses the presidential election that they stand to lose if there is a war."[32] The GMB Volunteers, a group described as a "frontline voluntary organization made up of professionals, ethnic and religious groups," has criticized hate advertisements directed against APC candidate General Muhammadu Buhari.[33]
As of 9 February, although "Nigerian civil society is in uproar" over the postponment, the north east remains calm, and voters there appeared willing to wait.[34]
Groups such as the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) have "advised political parties to stop making hate speeches against opponents."[35]
The Nigeria Women Platform for Peaceful Election (NWPPE) is collaborating with United Nations Women to hold training sessions for journalists on gender-based violence and gender sensitive reporting. A "women situation room", similar to a "civil society situation room" is planned for monitoring violence against women during the elections.[36]
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who has called the postponement "an obstruction of democracy", nonetheless released a statement saying "I charge Nigerians to be calm, non-violent and steadfast. We must be determined to make sure postponement does not demoralize or disenfranchise us. We must see this as a challenge for us to remain resolute in yearning for a new democratic government; one that will not see itself as above the people."[37]
On 31 January, a concert was held in Owerri, Imo State, as part of the RSVP concert series, urging young people to RSVP, Register, Select, Vote and Protect. "Register - pick your Permanent Voters' card-PVC, Select (select your candidates), and Vote - vote not Fight, and Protect - protect your mandate." A second RSVP concert is planned for Lagos on 8 February.[38]
The postponement was the topic of a Council on Foreign Relations online conference call with John Campbell on 28 February 2015.[39]
According to the Nigerian Constitution, the Presidential election must be held by 28 April.[34] As Section 25 of the 2010 Electoral Act states, the date is to be no later than 30 days before the expiration of the previous office holders' term of office.[40]
Media support
Buhari is supported by The Economist as "[t]he least awful" option.[41]
Election day
The website of the Independent National Electoral Commission was hacked on election day.[42]
Extension
The voting was extended due to technical problems with electronic card readers.[43] The technology was introduced to prevent voter fraud, but was opposed by President Goodluck Jonathan who called it a "huge national embarrassment" when problems caused a delay.
A government spokesman stated there was a record turnout.[44]
Violence
Reports have emerged of Boko Haram attempting to disrupt the election by attacking voting centers, killing 41 people.[45][46] An opposition politician, Umaru Ali was gunned down in one attack.[47][48]
Preliminary Results
Election observer missions were deployed from the African Union, Commonwealth of Nations, ECOWAS and the European Union; and were led by Amos Sawyer,[49] Bakili Muluzi,[50] John Kufuor,[51] and Santiago Fisas Ayxela respectively.[52]
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the citizens and the government for conducting a peaceful and orderly election.[53]
Presidential election
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)/meta/color"| | Goodluck Jonathan | People's Democratic Party |833,476| |1.3| | ||
style="background-color: Template:All Progressives Congress/meta/color"| | Muhammadu Buhari | All Progressives Congress |68,000,000| |98.7| | ||
Invalid/blank votes | ||||
Total | 100 | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 68,833,476 | |||
Source: INEC |
National Assembly
Party | Seats | % | |
---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)/meta/color"| | People's Democratic Party | ||
style="background-color: Template:All Progressives Congress/meta/color"| | All Progressives Congress | ||
Invalid/blank votes | |||
Total | 360 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | |||
Source: INEC |
Senate
Party | Seats | % | |
---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)/meta/color"| | People's Democratic Party | ||
style="background-color: Template:All Progressives Congress/meta/color"| | All Progressives Congress | ||
Invalid/blank votes | |||
Total | 109 | 100 | |
Registered voters/turnout | |||
Source: INEC |
Opinion polls
Poll source | Date | Sample size | Undecided | Buhari APC |
Jonathan PDP |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sahara Reporters[54][55] | 15 October 2014 | 15,435 | N/A | 79% | 21% | 24 hour online poll |
Buildup Nigeria[54][56] | 16 October 2014 | 26,595 | 2.29% | 48.41% | 49.3% | The poll was conducted by Reno Omokri, who serves as President Jonathan's Special Assistant on New Media.[57] |
Afrobarometer[58] | 5–27 December 2014 | 2,400 | 11% | 42% | 42% | Margin of error of +/-2% |
Nigerian FM[59] | 22 December 2014 | 54% | 48% | |||
WorldStage Newsonline[60] | 27 March 2015 | 1,886 | N/A | 35.53% | 64.48% | |
NigerianEye[61] | 20 January 2015 | 7,043 | N/A | 72% | 25% | The remaining 3% voted for other candidates |
References
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- ^ "Publication of the Register of Voters for the 2015 General Elections" (PDF). INEC. 13 January 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "Approved Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of 2015 General Elections" (PDF). INEC. January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ^ a b c "Nigeria's Election a Perilous Postponement" (PDF). Crisis Group. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ Nigeria IFES
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{{cite web}}
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