Why the opposition won in Nigeria and what to expect now

The 2015 Nigerian election saw the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) defeat the incumbent People's Democratic Party (PDP), a result attributed to better APC organization, widespread dissatisfaction with the PDP's handling of security and the economy, and technological improvements in the electoral process. The author argues that President-elect Muhammadu Buhari must prioritize combating Boko Haram, addressing potential instability in the oil-producing Delta region, and implementing anti-corruption measures to restore public confidence and attract global investment. Key economic recommendations include boosting agriculture, improving electricity supply, and passing the Petroleum Industries Bill to reform the oil sector.

• The victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven by superior organization and voter turnout, particularly in the north-west and south-west, while the incumbent People's Democratic Party (PDP) failed to replicate its 2011 support levels in the south-south and south-east.
• Public dissatisfaction with the PDP government centered on national security failures in the north-east, economic issues including poverty and unemployment, and the failure to fulfill promises regarding the erratic electricity grid.
• Technological upgrades to the electoral process, specifically the introduction of electronic voter cards and an updated register that removed over five million unqualified voters, were critical to the election's success and the prevention of rigging.
• The incoming Buhari administration faces two primary security threats: the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency and a potential resurgence of militant insurgency in the oil-producing Delta region as the amnesty program ends.
• To stabilize the economy and improve global standing, the author recommends that the government prioritize anti-corruption efforts, invest in infrastructure and skills, and pass the Petroleum Industries Bill to reform the opaque oil industry.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2015). Why the opposition won in Nigeria and what to expect now. https://saiia.org.za/research/why-the-opposition-won-in-nigeria-and-what-to-expect-now/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Why the opposition won in Nigeria and what to expect now. 2015. https://saiia.org.za/research/why-the-opposition-won-in-nigeria-and-what-to-expect-now/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Why the opposition won in Nigeria and what to expect now |date=2 April 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/why-the-opposition-won-in-nigeria-and-what-to-expect-now/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2015why, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Why the opposition won in Nigeria and what to expect now}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/why-the-opposition-won-in-nigeria-and-what-to-expect-now/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }