Type of election(s) and dates

 Presidential (March 28^th 2015), Parliamentary and gubernatorial (April 11 2015)ECOWAS observed the presidential election.

Political parties and their leaders

14 Political Parties participated in the election.Leading parties:

(a) Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Candidate-Dr. Goodluck Jonathan

(b) All Progressives Congress (APC)-Gen Muhammadu Buhari

Votes scored

Dr. Goodluck Jonathan- 12, 853,162

Gen Muhammadu Buhari –15, 424,921

Winners of the election(s)

Gen Muhammadu Buhari.

Atmospherics during the electioneering and voting processes

The general atmosphere was charged. Nigeria had been ruled since 199 by the PDP. The security challenges occasioned by insurgents’ activities had made many citizens nervous. But on the strength of the information provided by its observers, the ECOWAS Mission listed the positive trends of the election to include high voter turn-out, commendable level of patience, discipline and organization as well as the orderly and peaceful atmosphere which prevailed generally. A set of standard operational guidelines and rules for policemen on duty was circulated by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the enhancement of election uniformity of action.

Post-election reactions from the people, losers and winners

There were wild jubilations across the country. There were also pockets of resentments largely from the perceived lopsidedness of the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs). In a rare show of magnanimity, the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan called to congratulate the eventual winner Gen Buhari even while the final votes were yet to be counted. Gen Buhari has since commended the process that led to the electoral victory of the APC and commended his opponent in the keenly contested election for his statesmanship.

General information about the election, Rules of engagement

Nigeria operates a multi-party democratic system. The electoral umpire is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Nigerian Constitution provides for a maximum of two terms- four-year tenure for any aspirant. Section 30 (1) of the country’s Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for notice by contestants of not later than 90 days before the conduct of elections.

 ECOWAS Mission’s Intervention    

ECOWAS deployed a 250-man observation Mission to Nigeria. Made up of short and long term observers, they were distributed to cover five of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones excluding the North East. Besides the shortcomings that characterized the elections, The ECOWAS Election Observation Mission declared that the election was generally free, fair and transparent. Giving its preliminary declaration, the Mission led by former Ghanaian president John Kufuor commended the enthusiasm, maturity, patience and sense of civic responsibility demonstrated by the electorate while hoping that the same spirit of respect for order and discipline continues to be the hallmarks of Nigerian elections. The ECOWAS Mission commended INEC officials for the good knowledge of and compliance with voting procedure rules as well as for the effective administration of the process.