NIGERIAN ELECTIONS GOODLUCK NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION Nigeria is a federation of thirty-six states and conducts elections periodically for federal as well as state political offices.

ELECTORAL ISSUES “Wetting” and voter intimidation Buying Votes Pre-Printed Ballots handed out to voters Incomplete Ballots Underage voting Stolen ballot boxes Lack of transparency On so on and so forth

ELECTORAL ISSUES

INEC Independent National Electoral Commission 2 nd attempt by Nigeria to regulate and to police their elections The mission of INEC is to serve as an independent and effective EMB committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

INEC It was created under the terms of the 1999 Constitution The Commission is made up of a Chairman, and 12 National Commissioners.

INEC Main Functions 1.) Organize, undertake and supervise all 2.) Register political parties in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and an act of the National Assembly. 3.) Monitor the organization and operation of the political parties, including their finances. 4.) Arrange and conduct the registration of persons qualified to vote as well as prepare, maintain and revise the register of voters for the purpose of any election under this Constitution. 5.) Monitors political campaigns and provide rules and regulations, which shall govern the political parties.

POLITICAL PARTIES Nigeria is a multi-party state with 3 strong parties. However, national politics have been dominated by one party, the PDP, since the start of the 4 th Republic in 1999.

PDP – PEOPLES’ DEMOCRATIC PARTY The dominant political party in Nigeria since 1999

PDP – PEOPLES’ DEMOCRATIC PARTY A conservative Political Party Policies lie to the center right on the spectrum Neoliberal economic policies – favoring free market and economic liberalization – reduced taxes, reduced spending, and privatization Anti-same sex relations – homosexual relations are a crime punishable up to 5 years But pro National Health Insurance

PDP – PEOPLES’ DEMOCRATIC PARTY

ANPP – All Nigeria Peoples’ Party A conservative Political Party It is the household party in the extreme northern part of Nigeria It is the strongest opposition party controlling 7 of 36 states

ANC – ACTION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA It is a more liberal / progressive party It support lies in Lagos in southwestern Nigeria

Election Results

2015 Changes In February 2013 the ANC party announced plans to merge with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to form the All Progressives Congress. The locals are getting restless under PDP rule so time to shake things up. Wonder if these groups can actually rule together?

SUFFRAGE Universal suffrage at the Age of 18

SUFFRAGE Universal suffrage at the Age of 18

SUFFRAGE Universal suffrage at the Age of 18

SUFFRAGE Universal suffrage at the Age of 18

SUFFRAGE Universal suffrage at the Age of 18

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS The Constitution gives the President 2 four year terms. The President is elected directly by the people in a 2 step process. 1 st – Direct national election with simple majority (If no Maj then a Run Off Election) 2 nd – Winner must receive 25% of the vote in 2/3rds of the 36 states.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 27 February 1999 Presidential Election Registered Voters 57,938,945 Total Votes (Voter Turnout) 30,280,052 (52.3%) Candidate Number of Votes % of Votes Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP)18,738, % Olu Falae (AD) 11,110, %

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 19 April 2003 Presidential Election Registered Voters 60,823,022 Total Votes (Voter Turnout) 42,018,735 (69.1%) Candidate (Party)Number of Votes % of Votes Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP)24,456, % Muhammadu Buhari (ANPP)12,710, % Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (APGA)1,297, %

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 21 April 2007 Presidential Election* Registered Voters 61,567,036 Total Votes (Voter Turnout) Not Available (approx. 58%) Candidate (Party)Number of Votes% of Votes Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (PDP)24,638, % Muhammadu Buhari (ANPP) 6,605, % Atiku Abubakar (AC)2,637, % (Obie’s VP)

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Umaru Musa Yar’Adua would not served his full term. Due to illness, he resigned in 2009 and his VP, Goodluck Jonathan took his place as acting President in 2009.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Controversy rose up again prior to the 2011 election (surprise surprise surprise!) The PDP has an informal rule / gentlemen’s agreement that power is to rotate between the Muslim north and the Christian south every 2 terms. The Muslim north was set to hold power for 2 terms from 2007 to Goodluck Jonathan is a Southern Christian.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 16 April 2011 Presidential Election Registered Voters 73,528,040 Total Votes (Voter Turnout) 39,469,484 (53.7%) Candidate (Party)Number of Votes % of Votes Goodluck Jonathan (PDP)22,495, % Muhammadu Buhari (CPC)12,214, % Nuhu Ribadu (ACN) 2,079, % Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP)917, %

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 2015 Election cycle is coming up quickly. It is significant as this election may be the first truly contested election featuring a viable opposition since the start of the 4 th Republic in 1999.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Goodluck Jonathan ran unopposed and received the nomination of the PDP on 12/10/14. Prior to the elections, 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.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS The All Progressives Congress (Coalition) held its primaries on 10 December, and the nomination was won by former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari Buhari was military leader from 1983 to 1985 and then ran unsuccessfully for the Presidency in 2003, 2007, and 2011.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Buhari is a northern Muslim (Fullani). He was a strong leader who acted against corruption with his “War against Indiscipline” in the 1980s. – Folk Hero Status He favors freedom of religion but as a Muslim, he also favors Sharia Law in the North. This causes him conflicts with Christian voters in the South.

LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS The Nigerian Legislature is called the National Assembly. It is a Bicameral legislature composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

NIGERIAN SENATE There are three Senatorial districts in each of the thirty-six states, and the Federal Capital, Abuja, is counted as one district, which brings the total number of senators to 109

NIGERIAN SENATE Members are elected by direct popular vote in 36 multi-member constituencies corresponding to the country's states (3 Senators per state) and 1 single-member constituency representing the Federal Capital Territory using the first-past-the- post system; members serve 4-year terms.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES For purposes of allocating seats in the House of Representatives, Nigeria is divided into 360 Federal constituencies, each of which is represented by one member in the House.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (360 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system; members serve 4-year terms.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Eligibility - 30 years old - Nigerian citizenship - School-leaving certificate - Membership of a political party Ineligibilities: - Employees in the public service - Persons who have acquired citizenship of another country - Persons who have been convicted of and sentenced for a criminal offence - Persons declared bankrupt - Members of secret societies (secret cults) - Persons indicted for fraud by an administrative or judicial commission of inquiry - Persons adjudged of unsound mind

STAE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS GOVERNORS For purposes of gubernatorial elections, each state is considered to be one constituency, in which everyone qualified to vote in state Assembly elections is eligible to vote STATE LEGISLATURES Each state has a legislative body known as a House of Assembly, with the number of seats ranging from 24 to 40, representing in as far as it is possible an equally divided number of residents