Elections in Nigeria

Elections in Nigeria are forms of choosing representatives to the Nigerian federal government and the various states in the fourth republic Nigeria.[1]

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Background

Nigerians elects on the federal level a head of state (the President of Nigeria) and a legislature (the National Assembly). The president is elected by the people. The National Assembly has two chambers. The 'House of Representatives has 360 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 109 members, elected for a four-year term: each of the 36 states are divided into 3 senatorial districts, each of which is represented by one senator; the Federal Capital Territory is represented by only one senator.[2]

Nigeria has a multi-party system, with two or three strong parties and a third party that is electorally successful. However, members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had controlled the presidency since elections were resumed in 1999 until 2015 when Muhammadu Buhari won the presidential election.[3]

2007 elections
Main article: 2007 Nigerian general election

The Nigerian general elections of 2007 were held on 14 April and 21 April 2007.[4] Governorship and state assembly elections were held on 14 April, while the presidential and national assembly elections were held a week later on 21 April. Umaru Yar'Adua won the highly controversial election for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) and was sworn in on 29 May.

The ruling PDP won 26 of the 32 states, according to INEC, including Kaduna State and Katsina State, where the results were contested by the local population.[5]

Following the presidential election, groups monitoring the election gave it a dismal assessment. Chief European Union observer Max van den Berg reported that the handling of the polls had "fallen far short" of basic international standards, and that "the process cannot be considered to be credible."[6] A spokesman for the United States Department of State said it was "deeply troubled" by election polls, calling them "flawed", and said it hoped the political parties would resolve any differences over the election through peaceful, constitutional means.[7]

2011 elections
Main articles: 2011 Nigerian presidential election and Nigerian parliamentary election, 2011

A parliamentary election was held in Nigeria on 9 April 2011. The election was originally scheduled to be held on 2 April,[8][9] but was later postponed to 4 April.[10]

A presidential election was held in Nigeria on 16 April 2011, postponed from 9 April 2011.[11][12][13] The election follows controversy as to whether a Muslim or Christian should be allowed to become president given the tradition of rotating the top office between the religions and following the death of Umaru Yar'Adua, who was a Muslim, and Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, assuming the interim presidency.

Following the election widespread violence took place in the northern parts of the country.[14] Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner on 19 April.[15] The elections was reported in the international media as having run smoothly with relatively little violence or voter fraud in contrast to previous elections, in particular the widely disputed 2007 election.[16] The United States State Department said the election was "successful" and a "substantial improvement" over 2007, although it added that vote rigging and fraud also took place.[17]

2015 elections
Main article: 2015 Nigerian general election

The 2015 general elections was originally scheduled to hold 14 February, but was later postponed to 28 March{Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives} and 11 April 2015 {Governorship and state house of Assembly}.[18] General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress emerged as the winner of the Presidential elections and was sworn in on 29 May 2015. It was the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost an election. Goodluck Ebele Johnathan of the People's Democratic Party lost his seat to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress .[19]

2019 elections
Main article: 2019 Nigerian general election

Presidential and National Assembly Elections were scheduled for 16 February 2019, while State and Local government elections were scheduled for 2 March 2019. Elections were postponed by one week after INEC cited logistic challenges.[20] The rescheduled dates are 23 February and 9 March 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari was re-elected for another four-year term. The primary contender was former vice president, Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[21] Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Yele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC) and Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN) were other popular candidates who are all relatively young. Late last year these three parties alongside some others attempted to form a coalition.[22] However, the candidates pulled out of the coalition and decided to continue running on their respective platforms. There are 73 candidates contesting in the presidential election.[23]

The 2019 governorship and state house of assembly election was earlier scheduled for 2 March 2019 was rescheduled for Saturday 9, March 2019. With two major political parties; All Progressives Congress (APC) and People's Democratic Party fielding candidates in the elections across various states except Rivers where a court order prohibits The All Progressives Congress from fielding candidates as a result of internal crisis with the state chapter of the party.

See also

References
  1. Oni, Samuel; Chidozie, Felix; Agbude, Godwyns (11 August 2014). "Electoral Politics in the Fourth Republic of Nigeria's Democratic Governance". Rochester, NY. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Goitom, Hanibal (May 2012). "Nigeria: Election Laws | Law Library of Congress". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. "People's Democratic Party | History, Objectives, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. Ola Awoniyi: "Nigeria sets date for elections" Archived 13 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Mail & Guardian. 29 August 2006.
  5. Barry Moody, "Nigeria court clears way for late presidential bid", Reuters (Alertnet.org), 16 April 2007.
  6. "Nigeria election 'worst ever seen'", SMH News, 24 April 2007.
  7. "Huge win for Nigeria's Yar'Adua", BBC News, 23 April 2007.
  8. "Nigeria's General Elections Postponed From January To April As A New Voter Registration Software Is Released By The Inec - West African News". Allwestafrica.com. 24 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  9. "Nigeria to hold presidential election on 9 April". Bbc.co.uk. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  10. the CNN Wire Staff. "Nigeria postpones parliamentary election - CNN.com". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  11. "Nigeria to hold presidential election on 9 April". BBC News. 23 November 2010.
  12. "Nigeria's General Elections Postponed From January To April As A New Voter Registration Software Is Released By The Inec - All West Africa News". Archived from the original on 2 December 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  13. "Nigeria Elections postponed for second time". Aljazeera News. 3 April 2011.
  14. "Jonathan rival rejects vote result as thousands flee Nigeria unrest". Daily Nation. Kenya. 20 April 2011. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  15. Purefoy, Christian (19 April 2011). "Widespread election violence erupts in Nigeria". CNN. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  16. Nossiter, Adam (16 April 2011). "Nigerians Vote in Presidential Election". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  17. "The Recent Elections in Nigeria".
  18. "INEC Nigeria". www.inecnigeria.org. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  19. Odeyemi (2015). "Stakeholders, Information and Communication Technologies platforms and the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  20. "It's Official: INEC postpones all Nigeria's general elections". Premium Times. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  21. "Presidential Elections 2019 in Nigeria". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  22. Toromade, Samson. "How PACT crumbled before and after Fela Durotoye beat Moghalu to emerge consensus candidate". www.pulse.ng. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  23. "73 candidates for presidential election, says INEC". Guardian Newspapers. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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