The 2011 elections in Nigeria: a new dawn?

The April 2011 elections in Nigeria were viewed as a significant improvement over previous polls, though they were marred by pre-election violence and post-election unrest in the north. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidency with 58.89% of the vote, while his rival Muhammadu Buhari dominated the northern states. The document highlights deep-seated systemic issues, including the 'resource curse' of oil, widespread corruption among the political elite, and the collapse of the 'zoning' consensus intended to balance regional power. Despite the role of a vibrant civil society and an independent judiciary, the author argues that without visionary leadership and major reforms in the oil industry and public sector, the prospect of genuine good governance remains slim.

• The April 2011 elections were generally considered more organized and fair than previous ones, though they suffered from low turnout due to pre-election bomb attacks and a cumbersome new voting system. Of approximately 74 million registered voters, only 39,469,484 participated in the presidential election.
• President Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential election with 22,495,187 votes (58.89%), while Muhammadu Buhari received 12,214,853 votes (31.98%). The results showed a sharp regional divide, with Jonathan dominating the south and Buhari winning the 16 main northern states.
• Following the announcement of the results, widespread violence erupted in northern cities, resulting in as many as 1,000 deaths. This violence was driven by suspicions of rigging in the south and resentment over the abandonment of 'zoning'—an elite consensus to rotate presidential power between the north and south.
• Nigeria's economy is heavily distorted by a 'resource curse' stemming from its reliance on oil, which accounts for 95% of exports. This has led to the neglect of agriculture and manufacturing, leaving the country as a net importer of food and unable to meet basic electricity needs in cities like Lagos.
• Systemic corruption is pervasive among the political elite, with reports of billions of dollars in state funds being embezzled. Examples include a missing $27 billion from the Excess Crude Account and allegations that state governors embezzled N1.3 trillion in development funds in 2010.
• The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) underwent significant reform prior to 2011, including the appointment of Attahiru Jega as chair and the delinking of its funding from the presidency, which contributed to the improved credibility of the polls.
• Political violence is a recurring feature of Nigerian elections, characterized by 'Point and kill' assassinations and the use of thugs. The government deployed a new 17,000-strong army division and the entire 370,000-strong police force to manage the 2011 elections.
• Nigeria possesses a strong civil society and an independent judiciary, which provide a check on power. The judiciary is noted for its ability to overturn fraudulent elections and handle a high volume of electoral petitions, though it remains overburdened.

APA

Gberie, L. (2011). The 2011 elections in Nigeria: a new dawn? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2011_13MayNigeria.pdf

Chicago

Gberie, Lansana. The 2011 elections in Nigeria: a new dawn? Institute for Security Studies, 2011. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2011_13MayNigeria.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gberie |first1=Lansana |title=The 2011 elections in Nigeria: a new dawn? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=13 May 2011 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2011_13MayNigeria.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gberie20112011, author = {Gberie, Lansana}, title = {{The 2011 elections in Nigeria: a new dawn?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2011}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/SitRep2011_13MayNigeria.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }