AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE

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Elections in Nigeria
 
Political Profile
Political System: Emerging Democracy
President: Goodluck Jonathan (PDP) [since 9 February 2010; served in an acting capacity from February-May 2010; sworn in on 6 May 2010; elected 2011] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 4-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off). Note: To win in the first round, a candidate not only needs a simple majority of votes cast, but at least 25 percent of the vote in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states.
National Assembly [bicameral]
--Senate (109 Seats) 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 (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.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1966 Democracy
1966-1979 Military Regime
1979-1983 Democracy
1983-1989 Military Regime
1989-1993 Restricted Democratic Practice
1993-1998 Military Regime
1998-1999 Transitional Government
1999-2007 Democracy
2007-        Emerging Democracy
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 4, Civil Liberties - 4, Status: Partly Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: 2015
Next Scheduled Senatorial Election: 26 April 2011 (partial)
Next Scheduled House of Representatives Election: 26 April 2011 (partial)
Political Parties: AC - Action Congress, ACN - Action Congress of Nigeria, AD - Alliance for Democracy (center-left), ADC - African Democratic Congress, AG - Action Group, ALP - African Liberation Party, ANPP - All Nigeria People's Party (conservative), APGA - All Progressives Grand Alliance, APLP - All Peoples Liberation Party, APP - All People's Party (center-right), APS - African Political System, ARP - African Renaissance Party, BNPP - Better Nigeria Progressive Party, CNC - Congress for National Consensus, CPC - Congress for Progressive Change, CPP - Citizens Popular Party, DA - Democratic Alternative, DP - Dynamic Party, DPN - Democratic Party of Nigeria, DPP - Democratic People's Party, FRESH - Fresh Democratic Party, GDM - Grassroots Democratic Movement, GNPP - Greater Nigerian People's Party, HDP - Hope Democratic Party, IU - Igala Union, ITU - Igbira Tribal Union, JP - Justice Party, KPP - Kano People's Party, LDPN - Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria, LSUF - Lagos State United Front, MGA - Mabolaje Grand Alliance, MDF - Midwest Democratic Front, MDJ - Movement for Democracy and Justice, MMN - Masses Movement of Nigeria, MPPP - Mega Progressive People's Party, NAC - National Action Council, NAP - Nigeria Advance Party, NCNC - National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons/National Council of Nigerian Citizens, NCP - National Conscience Party, NCPN - National Centre Party of Nigeria, ND - New Democrats, NDC - Niger Delta Congress, NDP - National Democratic Party, NEPU - Northern Elements Progressive Union, NMDP - National Majority Democratic Party, NNDP - Nigerian National Democratic Party, NNPP - New Nigeria Peoples Party, NPC - Nigeria People's Congress, NPC - Northern People's Congress, NPF - Northern Progressive Front, NPN - National Party of Nigeria, NPP - Nigerian People's Party, NRC - National Republican Convention, NTP - National Transformation Party, NUP - National Unity Party, PAC - Progressive Action Congress, PDC - People for Democratic Change, PDP - People's Democratic Party (center-left), PMP - People's Mandate Party, PPA - Progressive People's Alliance, PPP - People's Progressive Party, PRP - People's Redemption Party, PSD - Party for Social Democracy, RP - Republican Party, RPN - Republican Party of Nigeria, SDMP - Social Democratic Mega Party, SDP - Social Democratic Party, UMBC - United Middle-Belt Congress, UNCP - United Nigeria Congress Party, UNPD - United National Party for Development, UNPP - United Nigeria People's Party, UPN - Unity Party of Nigeria, ZCP - Zamfara Commoners Party.
Coalitions: National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons-Northern Elements Progressive Union (NCNC-NEPU) [Contested the 1959 House of Representatives Election]; Nigerian National Alliance (NNA) [Contested the 1964 House of Representatives Election] Member Parties include the Northern People's Congress (NPC), Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), Midwest Democratic Front (MDF), Dynamic Party (DP), Niger Delta Congress (NDC), Lagos State United Front (LSUF), and Republican Party (RP); United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) [Contested the 1964 House of Representatives Election] Member Parties include the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), Action Group (AG), Northern Progressive Front (NPF), Kano People's Party (KPP), Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU), United Middle-Belt Congress (UMBC), and Zamfara Commoners Party (ZCP); Alliance for Democracy-All People's Party (AD-APP) [Contested the 1999 Presidential Election]
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential: 1979, 1983, 1993, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
Legislative
--House of Representatives: 1959, 1964, 1979, 1983, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
--Senate: 1979, 1983, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011
State Governorship: 2011
State House of Assembly: 1979
Referendums
--Sub-National: 1959, 1961, 1963
 
Note: Women in northern Nigeria were legally disqualified from voting until 1977, when an electoral decree granted them suffrage. In other areas of the country, universal adult suffrage was adopted in 1958, and took effect the following year.
 
12 December 1959 House of Representatives Election [Detailed Results]

Registered Voters

9,036,083

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

7,185,555

Party/[Coalition] Number of Seats (312)
Northern People's Congress (NPC) & Allies 148

Northern People's Congress (NPC)
134
Mabolaje Grand Alliance (MGA) 6
Igala Union (IU) 4
Igbira Tribal Union (ITU) 1
Niger Delta Congress (NDC) 1
Independents 2
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons-Northern Elements Progressive Union
[NCNC-NEPU]
89

National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC)
81
Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) 8
Action Group (AG) & Allies 75
Action Group
73
Independents 2
 
30 December 1964/18 March 1965 House of Representatives Election* [Seats Won by Region]

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party/[Coalition] Number of Seats (312)
Nigerian National Alliance [NNA] 198

Northern People's Congress (NPC)
162
Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP) 36
Midwest Democratic Front (MDF) -
Dynamic Party (DP) -
Niger Delta Congress (NDC) -
Lagos State United Front (LSUF) -
Republican Party (RP) -
United Progressive Grand Alliance [UPGA] 109

National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC)
84
Action Group (AG) 21
Northern Progressive Front (NPF) 4
Kano People's Party (KPP) -
Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) -
United Middle-Belt Congress (UMBC) -
Zamfara Commoners Party (ZCP) -
Independents 5
*Due to a boycott of the 30 December 1964 elections in the Eastern Region as well as in some constituencies of Lagos and the Mid-Western Region, supplementary elections were held in these areas on 18 March 1965.
 
July 1979 National Assembly Election
Senate (7 July 1979) [Seats Won by State]

Registered Voters

48,633,782

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

12,532,195 (25.8%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

12,314,107

House of Representatives (14 July 1979) [Seats Won by State]

Registered Voters

48,633,782

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

14,941,555 (30.7%)

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes (95) Number of Seats (449)
National Party of Nigeria (NPN) 4,032,329 32.75% 36 168
Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) 2,835,362 23.03% 28 111
Nigerian People's Party (NPP) 2,145,849 17.43% 16 78
Greater Nigerian People's Party (GNPP) 1,847,019 15.00% 8 43
People's Redemption Party (PRP) 1,453,538 11.80% 7 49
 
11 August 1979 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

48,633,782

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

16,846,633

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Shehu Shagari (NPN) 5,668,857 33.77%
Obafemi Awolowo (UPN) 4,916,651 29.18%
Nnamdi Azikiwe (NPP) 2,822,523 16.75%
Aminu Kano (PRP) 1,732,113 10.28%
Waziri Ibrahim (GNPP) 1,686,489 10.02%
 

Registered Voters

65,304,818

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

25,430,096

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Shehu Shagari (NPN) 12,081,471 47.51%
Obafemi Awolowo (UPN) 7,907,209 31.09%
Nnamdi Azikiwe (NPP) 3,557,113 13.99%
Hassan Yusuf (PRP) 968,974 3.81%
Waziri Ibrahim (GNPP) 643,805 2.53%
Tunji Braithwaite (NAP) 271,524 1.07%
*Due to the disputed nature of this election, results tend to differ by source. A side-by-side comparison of the above results with another commonly used set of results can be found here.
 
Senate (20 August 1983)

Registered Voters

65,300,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

House of Representatives (27 August 1983)

Registered Voters

65,300,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Seats (96) Number of Seats (450)
National Party of Nigeria (NPN) 55 264
Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) 12 33
Nigerian People's Party (NPP) 12 48
People's Redemption Party (PRP) 5 41
Greater Nigerian People's Party (GNPP) 1 -
Vacant* 10 64
*In two states, Ondo and Oyo, elections to the National Assembly were delayed due to outbreaks of violence. The delayed polls were held in September 1983 to fill the vacant seats. The final composition of the National Assembly after the elections was as follows: Senate - NPN (60), UPN (16), NPP (12), PRP (5), GNPP (2), and (1) vacant seat; House of Representatives - NPN (306), UPN (51), NPP (48), and the PRP (41). Results for the (4) remaining seats were unavailable.
 
Senate

Registered Voters

38,866,336

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

15,800,776

House of Representatives

Registered Voters

38,866,336

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

16,905,871

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (91) Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (593)
Social Democratic Party (SDP) 7,494,228 47.43% 52 8,354,791 49.42% 314
National Republican Convention (NRC) 8,306,548 52.57% 37 8,551,080 50.58% 275
Vacant - - 2 - - 4
 
12 June 1993 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

39,000,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

14,293,396

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (SDP) 8,341,309 58.36%
Bashir Othman Tofa (NRC) 5,952,087 41.64%
*Soon after the Presidential Election, the Babangida administration annulled the election results. This led to his resignation after widespread protests and an Interim National Government, led by Ernest Shonekan took power.
 
25 April 1998 National Assembly Election*
Senate

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

House of Representatives

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Seats (80) Number of Seats (282)
United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) 61 229
Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) 9 39
Congress for National Consensus (CNC) 6 6
Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) 2 4
National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN) 2 4
*These elections were held during the military regime of General Sani Abacha in which all political parties participating were affiliated with the government while the true opposition was prevented from participating in the poll. The results above are based on figures released by the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON) and are likely incomplete. Voter turnout was extremely low and the result was soon after annulled by the authorities.
 
20 February 1999 National Assembly Election
Senate

Registered Voters

57,938,945

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

24,386,247 (42.1%)

House of Representatives

Registered Voters

57,938,945

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

23,573,407 (40.7%)

Party Senate House of Representatives
% of Votes Number of Seats (109) % of Votes Number of Seats (360)
People's Democratic Party (PDP) 56.4% 59 57.1% 206
All People's Party (APP) 31.2% 29 30.6% 74
Alliance for Democracy (AD) 12.4% 20 12.4% 68
Vacant/Undeclared Seats - 1 - 12
 
27 February 1999 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

57,938,945

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

30,280,052 (52.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     431,611

Total Valid Votes

29,848,441

Candidate (Party) [Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes
Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP) 18,738,154 62.78%
Olu Falae (AD) [AD-APP] 11,110,287 37.22%
 
12 April 2003 National Assembly Election
Senate

Registered Voters

60,823,022

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

29,995,171 (49.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     965,064

Total Valid Votes

29,030,107

House of Representatives

Registered Voters

60,823,022

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

30,386,270 (50.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  1,153,200

Total Valid Votes

29,233,070

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (109) Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (360)
People's Democratic Party (PDP) 15,585,538 53.69% 76 15,927,807 54.49% 223
All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) 8,091,783 27.87% 27 8,021,531 27.44% 96
Alliance for Democracy (AD) 2,828,082 9.74% 6 2,711,972 9.28% 34
United Nigeria People's Party (UNPP) 789,705 2.72% - 803,432 2.75% 2
National Democratic Party (NDP) 459,462 1.58% - 561,161 1.92% 1
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) 429,073 1.48% - 397,147 1.36% 2
People's Redemption Party (PRP) 204,929 0.71% - 222,938 0.76% 1
Others 641,535 2.21% - 587,082 2.01% -
Vacant - - - - - 1
 
19 April 2003 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

60,823,022

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

42,018,735 (69.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  2,538,246

Total Valid Votes

39,480,489

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Olusegun Obasanjo (PDP) 24,456,140 61.94%
Muhammadu Buhari (ANPP) 12,710,022 32.19%
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (APGA) 1,297,445 3.29%
Jim Nwobodo (UNPP) 169,609 0.43%
Gani Fawehimi (NCP) 161,333 0.41%
Sarah Jubril (PAC) 157,560 0.40%
Ike Nwachukwu (NDP) 132,997 0.34%
Christopher Okotie (JP) 119,547 0.30%
Balarabe Musa (PRP) 100,765 0.26%
Arthur Nwankwo (PMP) 57,720 0.15%
Emmanuel Okereke (APLP) 26,921 0.07%
Kalu Idika Kalu (NNPP) 23,830 0.06%
Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf (MDJ) 21,403 0.05%
Yahaya Ndu (ARP) 11,565 0.03%
Abayomi Ferreira (DA) 6,727 0.02%
Tunji Braithwaite (NAP) 6,932 0.02%
Iheanyichukwu Nnaji (BNPP) 5,987 0.02%
Olapade Agoro (NAC) 5,756 0.01%
Pere Ajuwa (LDPN) 4,473 0.01%
Mojisola Adekunle Obasanjo (MMN) 3,757 0.01%
 
21 April 2007 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

61,567,036

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (approx. 58%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

35,397,517

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (PDP) 24,638,063 69.60%
Muhammadu Buhari (ANPP) 6,605,299 18.66%
Atiku Abubakar (AC) 2,637,848 7.45%
Orji Uzor Kalu (PPA) 608,803 1.72%
Attahiru Bafarawa (DPP) 289,224 0.82%
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (APGA) 155,947 0.44%
Pere Ajuwa (AD) 89,241 0.25%
Christopher Okotie (FRESH) 74,049 0.21%
Patrick Utomi (ADC) 50,849 0.14%
Asakarawon Olapere (NPC) 33,771 0.10%
Ambrose Owuru (HDP) 28,519 0.08%
Arthur Nwankwo (PMP) 24,164 0.07%
Emmanuel Okereke (ALP) 22,677 0.06%
Lawrence Adedoyin (APS) 22,409 0.06%
Aliyu Habu Fari (NDP) 21,974 0.06%
Galtima Liman (NNPP) 21,665 0.06%
Maxi Okwu (CPP) 14,027 0.04%
Sunny Okogwu (RPN) 13,566 0.04%
Iheanyichukwu Nnaji (BNPP) 11,705 0.03%
Osagie Obayuwana (NCP) 8,229 0.02%
Olapade Agoro (NAC) 5,752 0.02%
Akpone Solomon (NMDP) 5,664 0.02%
Isa Odidi (ND) 5,408 0.02%
Aminu Abubakar (NUP) 4,355 0.01%
Mojisola Adekunle Obasanjo (MMN) 4,309 0.01%
*The figures in the table are based on final results announced by Maurice Iwu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on 23 April 2007. Final results were also published on the INEC website, but the figures differ from those in the table above. A side-by-side comparison of the two sets of election results can be found here.
 
21 April 2007 National Assembly Election
Senate

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

House of Representatives

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Seats (109) Number of Seats (360)
People's Democratic Party (PDP) 87 263
All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) 14 63
Action Congress (AC) 6 30
Progressive People's Alliance (PPA) 1 3
Accord Party (ACCORD) 1 -
Labour Party (LP) - 1
 
April 2011 National Assembly Election*
Senate (9 April 2011)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

House of Representatives (9 April 2011)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party Senate House of Representatives
Number of Seats (109) Number of Seats (360)
People's Democratic Party (PDP) 45 123
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) 13 47
All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) 7 25
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) 5 30
Others

4

9
*Preliminary (incomplete) results, as posted on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website.
*Due to logistical problems, elections in 15 Senatorial and 48 House constituencies will take place on 26 April 2011.
 
16 April 2011 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

73,528,040

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

39,469,484 (53.7%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  1,259,506

Total Valid Votes

38,209,978

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Goodluck Jonathan (PDP) 22,495,187 58.89%
Muhammadu Buhari (CPC) 12,214,853 31.98%
Nuhu Ribadu (ACN) 2,079,151 5.41%
Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) 917,012 2.40%
Mahmud Waziri (PDC) 82,243 0.21%
Nwadike Chikezie (PMP) 56,248 0.15%
Lawson Aroh (PPP) 54,203 0.14%
Peter Nwangwu (ADC) 51,682 0.14%
Iheanyichukwu Nnaji (BNPP) 47,272 0.12%
Christopher Okotie (FRESH) 34,331 0.09%
Dele Momodu (NCP) 26,376 0.07%
Solomon Akpona (NMDP) 25,938 0.07%
Lawrence Adedoyin (APS) 23,740 0.06%
Ebiti Ndok (UNPD) 21,203 0.06%
John Dara (NTP) 19,744 0.05%
Rasheed Shitta-Bey (MPPP) 16,492 0.04%
Yahaya Ndu (ARP) 12,264 0.03%
Ambrose Owuru (HDP) 12,023 0.03%
Patrick Utomi (SDMP) 11,544 0.03%
Christopher Nwaokobia (LDPN) 8,472 0.02%