The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), has won the March 28 presidential election.
Buhari, contesting the office for the fourth time, polled 15,424,921 votes against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, of the Peoples Democratic Party to clinch the presidential seat.
Jonathan scored 12,853,162 votes.
The President-elect, a Head of State between 1984 and August 1985, won the contest in 21 states of the federation, leaving Jonathan with victories in 15 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Buhari won the election in 16 northern states and five south western states while Jonathan won the poll in three northern states, the FCT and 12 South-South and South-East states.
The highest number of votes was recorded in Kano, where Buhari scored 1,903,999 votes while Jonathan recorded his biggest victory in a controversial election in Rivers, garnering 1,487,075 votes in the state, where a large scale protest had attempted to stop the huge vote.
Statement by Kofi Annan ahead of the Nigerian Presidential Election
26 March 2015
Nigeria is headed towards historic elections on Saturday. Though many observers express concern due to Nigeria’s history of violent elections, I am enthusiastic about what they represent for Nigeria’s political development. Nigerians have a genuine choice between two parties and two very different candidates.
By publicly reaffirming their commitment to the Abuja Accord, to free, fair and credible elections, and calling on their supporters to refrain from violence, President Jonathan and General Buhari have demonstrated leadership qualities befitting the high office to which they aspire.
By signing this pledge, the two leading candidates have reminded their supporters that they are merely rivals, not enemies. Both aspire to serve their country and the nation will have to stand united both during and after the elections.
I congratulate the National Peace Committee, and particularly its chairman, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, for taking this meritorious initiative.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) too has worked hard to prepare the upcoming elections, the most challenging on the continent due to Nigeria’s size and complexity. But the responsibility for free, fair and peaceful elections does not lie with INEC alone. All stakeholders have a role to play in ensuring that the elections come off in the best conditions. Read more
Dear friends, as the presidential campaign draws to a close, let us talk – Nigerian to Nigerian.
My interactions with Nigerians from all over the country over the last few months have left me with an overwhelming sense of the expectations the citizens of Nigeria hold for the future.
There was a little girl who donated her savings because she believes in our campaign.
The young men and women at our campaign rallies who run after our motorcade, screaming ‘Change’.
The fisherman in Bayelsa who lost his livelihood because of the polluted Ogboinbiri River.
The welder from Ibadan who struggles under the weight of poor power supply.
This campaign has been about them, and millions of others who have been let down by their government. From Enugu to Edo, Cross Rivers to Kano, Ondo to Benue, and everywhere in between, Nigerians are tired of the status quo. Without exception, they want a more secure living environment, better economic opportunities, and a more accountable government, they want a country they can be proud of. Read more
NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR ON THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS, FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2015
Dear Compatriots,
President Goodluck Jonathan
1. As we prepare to go to the polls tomorrow, I have come before you this morning to express my immense appreciation for the opportunity you gave me to lead this great nation of ours in the past four years.
2. I also wish to place on record, once again, my sincere gratitude for the support you have given my administration without which the significant progress we have made in recent years would not have been possible.
3. In spite of the many challenges we have had to contend with since 1999, our present democratic dispensation continues to endure and grow stronger in keeping with the yearnings and aspirations of our people.
4. We have all worked very hard to nurture and strengthen our democratic institutions and promote the good governance practices which they were designed to deliver for the better well-being of our people.
5. I believe I can say without fear of contradiction that we all clearly cherish the democracy we now have and will never willingly give it up for any other form of governance.
6. This much-cherished democracy of ours is about to be put to the test once again.
7. I urge you all to troop out en-masse to peacefully perform your civic duty of voting for leaders of your choice tomorrow. Read more
President Obama released a message to the Nigerian people to highlight the opportunity that the upcoming elections present for all Nigerians to stand together in rejecting violence and extremism and instead show their support for a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future.
President Obama’s Message to the Nigerian People
(March 23, 2015)
BEGIN TEXT
Hello. Today, I want to speak directly to you—the people of Nigeria.
Nigeria is a great nation and you can be proud of the progress you’ve made. Together, you won your independence, emerged from military rule, and strengthened democratic institutions. You’ve strived to overcome division and to turn Nigeria’s diversity into a source of strength. You’ve worked hard to improve the lives of your families and to build the largest economy in Africa.
Now you have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of Nigeria’s progress—by voting in the upcoming elections. For elections to be credible, they must be free, fair and peaceful. All Nigerians must be able to cast their votes without intimidation or fear.
So I call on all leaders and candidates to make it clear to their supporters that violence has no place in democratic elections—and that they will not incite, support or engage in any kind of violence—before, during, or after the votes are counted. I call on all Nigerians to peacefully express your views and to reject the voices of those who call for violence. And when elections are free and fair, it is the responsibility of all citizens to help keep the peace, no matter who wins.
Successful elections and democratic progress will help Nigeria meet the urgent challenges you face today. Boko Haram—a brutal terrorist group that kills innocent men, women and children—must be stopped. Hundreds of kidnapped children deserve to be returned to their families. Nigerians who have been forced to flee deserve to return to their homes. Boko Haram wants to destroy Nigeria and all that you have worked to build. By casting your ballot, you can help secure your nation’s progress.
I’m told that there is a saying in your country: “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.” Today, I urge all Nigerians—from all religions, all ethnic groups, and all regions—to come together and keep Nigeria one. And in this task of advancing the security, prosperity, and human rights of all Nigerians, you will continue to have a friend and partner in the United States of America.
Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition
Permit me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. When speaking about Nigeria overseas, I normally prefer to be my country’s public relations and marketing officer, extolling her virtues and hoping to attract investments and tourists. But as we all know, Nigeria is now battling with many challenges, and if I refer to them, I do so only to impress on our friends in the United Kingdom that we are quite aware of our shortcomings and are doing our best to address them.
The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country. Read more
Fashola appeals to Private Sector employers to consider allowing their workers close early to enable them collect their PVC
The Lagos State Government Thursday declared Friday a work-free day for its workers just as the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, enjoined private Sector employers to release their workers early to enable those of them who are yet to collect their Permanent Voter’s Card to do so in their various Polling Units.
The Head of Service, Mrs. Oluseyi Williams, who gave the directive in a statement, said the State Government was desirous of ensuring that all public servants in the State participated in the voting process adding that they should take the opportunity to go out and collect their cards at their Polling Units.
Enjoining Private sector employers to release their workers early today for the same purpose, Governor Fashola said the desired prosperity and the brighter rewarding future being sought after by the people, both for themselves and for their children, would be determined by their willingness or otherwise to sacrifice time to key into the election process by collecting their Permanent Voters’ Cards for the elections.
He declared, “The prosperity and the brighter rewarding future that we all seek, for ourselves and our children over the next four years, will be determined by what we do in the next few days”, adding that no sacrifice could be too much a price to secure a better future over the next four years and beyond.
The Governor, who noted that in order for democracy to be truly representative, it must be participatory, added that such participation confers eligibility and imposes a duty on all the citizens from the age of 18 years to vote in the elections even as it also enables them to have a say in the elections.
Press Statement by General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, on the School Certificate Issue
Photo credit: @GMBOffice
Good Morning , Gentlemen of the Press.
I only consented to address you this morning because of the genuine concern expressed by many supporters and other well-meaning Nigerians that the issue be addressed. Otherwise, I would have dismissed it for what it is—sheer mischief and would not have considered it an issue worth the nation’s while.
I had assumed all along that all my records were in the custody of the Military Secretary of the Nigerian Army. Much to my surprise, we are now told that although a record of the result is available, there are no copies of the certificates in my personal file. This is why I formally requested my old school the Provincial Secondary School, Katsina [which is now known as Government College, Katsina] to make available the school’s copy of the result of the Cambridge/West African School Certificate. This will be made available to the press the moment this is available. Read more
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in thirteen states in the third phase of the exercise to begin on Friday, 7th November and end on Sunday, 9th November 2014.
Also, the Commission has approved Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the third phase to begin on Thursday, 13th November and end on Monday, 17th November 2014.
The states involved are: Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Plateau and Rivers.
The Commission had earlier conducted the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in twenty one states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Phases I and II. Read more
Sources: February & March 2011 editions of Daily Trust, Champion, Punch, Thisday, Vanguard & The Guardian newspapers; February & March 2011 editions of The News, Tell and Newswatch magazines; transcript of Goodluck Jonathan lone TV debate [1] as obtained from African Independent Television (AIT); Inaugural Presidential address of Goodluck Jonathan.
To intervene and revitalize the moribund Nigeria Machine Tools and other infrastructure owned by the federal government.
Government has budgeted N50b for job development and infrastructure
To modernize the ports
To complete the second River Niger bridge before the expiration of the tenure
To make the Minister of Works to immediately start repairs of the road leading to Murtala Mohammed International Airport
To transform all major routes in Damaturu to federal roads
To assist in resuscitating all the collapsed industries in Kano state
To work towards making Akanu Ibiam airport in Enugu an international airport
To seek alternative funding means to repair the Benin-Ore road.
To set up a committee to review Federal government landed properties in Lagos, hand over those that should and retain those that should be in possession of the Federal Government.
To give Sokoto-Kotangora road unfettered attention Read more
“Young Nigerians must continue to engage government,” the US Consul-General, Joseph D. Stafford, has said. This was part of his Keynote Remarks at the consulate’s New Tools, New Government town hall meeting with young leaders and icons held at the US Consulate’s Public Affairs Section office in Lagos. The event was presented by The Future Project.
“I was very impressed at the active participation of the Nigerian youth during the 2011 elections,” he said. “Now that the elections are over, it would be productive to see continuous social media engagements. The United States government hails the conduct of the process with young civil engagement organizations, and the activities of frontline organizations like The Future Project.”
The focus was on election and post-election engagement for young Nigerians to work and build a strong democratic society and drive a true government of and by the people.
The meeting covered using Social and New Media to address governance issues and encourage youth to be active citizens, and how various organizations, projects and activities engaged pre-elections, during the elections and post-elections, the impact made and future plans – long and short term.
Presentations were made by EnoughisEnough Nigeria on its RSVP campaign and the ReVoDa mobile election application, 234NEXT.com on its Ushahidi Platform, and the Community Development Foundation on its ReclaimNaija incident reporting website and an overview of election activities by Kayode Nubi, who is Communication Officer with The Future Project. There was also a practical session on how to use the internet to monitor government officials by Samuel Eyitayo, who is Information Resource Director of the Public Affairs Section.
Guests at the event included representatives of LEAP Africa, the Kudirat initiative for Democracy, Smoke Free Foundation, Access Cool Peer Monitoring Project, Tosin Jegde Foundation, amongst others. Also attending was ace comedian Ali Baba, OC Ukeje, Mosunmola Umoru, publisher Familusi Akin Babajide, Tosyn Bucknor, Abiola Aloba, amongst others. There was also a performance by GT da Guitarman and the event was hosted by TV presenter and events compere, Shade Ladipo. Read more
The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari(retd.), has won the March 28 presidential election.
