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| Nigerian Constitution and INEC |
The Nigerian presidential election is one of the most significant events in the country's political calendar. Every four years, Nigerians go to the polls to elect a president who will lead the nation for the next four years. The election is conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, which sets out the conditions that must be met for a candidate to be declared the winner.
One of the most important requirements for winning the Nigerian presidential election is contained in Section 134(2) of the Constitution. This section provides that a presidential candidate shall be deemed to have been duly elected if, among other things, he or she has not less than one-quarter of the votes cast at the election in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In practical terms, this means that a presidential candidate must win at least 25% of the votes in 24 states (out of the 36 states in Nigeria) and the FCT to be declared the winner of the election. This requirement is aimed at ensuring that a candidate has a broad base of support across the country, rather than just being popular in a few regions. However past elections have showed that, there are other conditions that may allow the 25% in FCT not to be a must. The table below shows the past presidential elections in Nigeria and their total vote won in FCT.
| Year | Winner | Total votes in FCT for winner | Percentage of total valid votes won in FCT | Other relevant information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Muhammadu Buhari | 150,710 | 13.5% | Buhari won with 15,191,847 votes, representing 55.6% of the total valid votes |
| 2015 | Muhammadu Buhari | 146,399 | 13.4% | Buhari won with 15,424,921 votes, representing 53.9% of the total valid votes |
| 2011 | Goodluck Jonathan | 537,231 | 22.6% | Jonathan won with 22,495,187 votes, representing 58.9% of the total valid votes |
| 2007 | Umaru Musa Yar'Adua | 292,190 | 27.3% | Yar'Adua won with 24,638,063 votes, representing 69.8% of the total valid votes |
| 2003 | Olusegun Obasanjo | 241,769 | 24.9% | Obasanjo won with 24,456,140 votes, representing 61.9% of the total valid votes |
| 1999 | Olusegun Obasanjo | 292,830 | 25.5% | Obasanjo won with 18,738,154 votes, representing 62.8% of the total valid votes |
The importance of this constitutional provision cannot be overstated. It ensures that a candidate who wins the presidential election has a mandate that reflects the will of the majority of Nigerians, rather than just the will of a few regions or ethnic groups. It also promotes national unity and cohesion by requiring a candidate to have support from a broad cross-section of the country.
However, meeting this constitutional requirement is not an easy feat. Nigeria is a country of over 200 million people with diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. Winning the support of such a diverse population is a daunting task, and candidates must invest a lot of time, resources, and energy to achieve this goal.
Candidates must crisscross the length and breadth of the country, holding rallies, engaging with traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and interest groups, and outlining their vision for the country. They must also be able to articulate policies that address the needs and aspirations of Nigerians, particularly in areas such as security, infrastructure, education, health, and job creation.
Furthermore, candidates must also be able to build strong political structures in each state of the federation and the FCT. They must have a robust campaign machinery that can mobilize voters, protect their votes, and ensure that they are counted and collated in accordance with the law.
In recent years, there have been concerns about the conduct of Nigerian presidential elections, particularly regarding the integrity of the electoral process. Some observers have alleged that the process is often marred by irregularities, vote-buying, and other forms of electoral malpractice.
To address these concerns, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body responsible for conducting elections in Nigeria, has introduced a range of measures aimed at improving the transparency, credibility, and fairness of the electoral process. These include the use of electronic voting machines, biometric voter identification, and real-time collation and transmission of results.