Nigerian presidential election, 2003
Encyclopedia
Presidential elections were held in Nigeria
on 19 April 2003. The result was a victory for incumbent Olusegun Obasanjo of the People's Democratic Party
. Voter turnout was 69.1%.
by a civilian government. Olusegun Obasanjo was a civilian president since 1999, after hanging up his uniform. Although he and his party were the clear favorites, he was accused of manipulating the ballot.
uncovered an electoral fraud, finding five million false ballots.
International observers, including the European Union
, determined various irregularities in 11 of the 36 Federal States
. Thus in many cases votes were pre-filled or results were later amended. In some states those did not fulfill minimum standard for democratic elections.
Nearly all opposition parties refused to recognize the result. The electoral committee noted for example that in the city Warri in the Niger delta
of 135,739 voters, 133,529 voted for the parliamentary election. Observers reported, however, that up to the Saturday afternoon no elections and only some polling stations had opened. Also the counting time very long compared with other countries pointed according to observers on possible electoral fraud
.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
on 19 April 2003. The result was a victory for incumbent Olusegun Obasanjo of the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
. Voter turnout was 69.1%.
Background
New elections were organized for the first time for 15 years in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
by a civilian government. Olusegun Obasanjo was a civilian president since 1999, after hanging up his uniform. Although he and his party were the clear favorites, he was accused of manipulating the ballot.
Electoral fraud
Millions of people voted several times. The police in LagosLagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
uncovered an electoral fraud, finding five million false ballots.
International observers, including the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, determined various irregularities in 11 of the 36 Federal States
States of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states are further divided into 774 Local Government Areas....
. Thus in many cases votes were pre-filled or results were later amended. In some states those did not fulfill minimum standard for democratic elections.
Nearly all opposition parties refused to recognize the result. The electoral committee noted for example that in the city Warri in the Niger delta
Niger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
of 135,739 voters, 133,529 voted for the parliamentary election. Observers reported, however, that up to the Saturday afternoon no elections and only some polling stations had opened. Also the counting time very long compared with other countries pointed according to observers on possible electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
.
Results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olusegun Obasanjo | People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In... |
24,456,140 | 61.94 |
| Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections... |
All Nigeria People's Party All Nigeria People's Party The All Nigeria Peoples Party is a conservative political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections , the party won 27.0% of the popular vote and 92 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and 27 out of 109 seats in the Senate... |
12,710,022 | 32.19 |
| Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was a Nigerian military officer and politician.Ojukwu served as the military governor of the Eastern Region of Nigeria in 1966, the leader of the breakaway Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 and a leading Nigerian politician from 1983 to 2011, when he died, aged... |
All Progressives Grand Alliance All Progressives Grand Alliance The All Progressives Grand Alliance is a political party in Nigeria. At the last legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 1.4 % of popular votes and 2 of 360 seats in the House of Representatives of Nigeria and no seats in the Senate... |
1,297,445 | 3.29 |
| Jim Nwobodo Jim Nwobodo James Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo is a Nigerian businessman and politician who was governor of Anambra State during the Nigerian Second Republic and was Senator for Enugu East in Enugu State... |
United Nigeria People's Party United Nigeria People's Party The United Nigeria People's Party is a political party in Nigeria.At the 12 April 2003 legislative elections the party won 2.8 % of popular votes, 2 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives of Nigeria, and no seats in the Senate.... |
169,609 | 0.43 |
| Gani Fawehimi | National Conscience Party | 161,333 | 0.41 |
| Sarah Jubril | Progressive Action Congress | 157,560 | 0.40 |
| Ike Nwachukwu Ike Nwachukwu Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu is a retired Army officer and Nigerian politician who, among other positions, has served as Foreign Minister of Nigeria twice and as a Senator in the National Assembly delegation from Abia State.... |
National Democratic Party National Democratic Party (Nigeria) The National Democratic Party is a progressive political party in Nigeria which was founded on 23 July 2001.At the last legislative elections, 12 April 2003, the party won 1.9 % of popular votes and 1 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives and no seats in the Senate.... |
132,997 | 0.34 |
| Chris Okotie Chris Okotie Chris Okotie is a leading Nigerian televangelist and the pastor of the Household of God Church International Ministries, a Pentecostal congregation in Lagos, Nigeria since February 1987.- Education and career:... |
Justice Party | 119,547 | 0.30 |
| Balarabe Musa | People's Redemption Party People's Redemption Party The People's Redemption Party was a political party in Nigeria. Often considered the Second Republic incarnation of the Northern Elements Progressive Union, the party was created by the late Mallam Aminu Kano. The PRP was highly regarded as a progressive left of center political party. Some well... |
100,765 | 0.26 |
| Arthur Nwankwo | People's Mandate Party | 57,720 | 0.15 |
| Emmanuel Okereke | All People's Liberation Party | 26,921 | 0.07 |
| Kalu Idika Kalu | New Nigeria People's Party | 23,830 | 0.06 |
| Muhammadu Dikko Yusuf | Movement for Democracy and Justice | 21,403 | 0.05 |
| Yahaya Ndu | African Renaissance Party | 11,565 | 0.03 |
| Abayomi Ferreira | Democratic Alternative Democratic Alternative (Nigeria) Democratic Alternative is a Nigerian opposition political party.On June 3 and 4, 1994, about 200 Nigerians critical of the military politicians and collaborators met in Benin City to examine the political impasse and decide on a political plan for the country and the peoples... |
6,727 | 0.02 |
| Tunji Braithwaite | Nigeria Advance Party Nigeria Advance Party The Nigeria Advance Party is a progressive political party headed by a radical Lagos lawyer, Tunji Braithwaite.... |
6,932 | 0.02 |
| Iheanyichukwu Godswill Nnaji | Better Nigeria Progressive Party | 5,987 | 0.02 |
| Olapade Agoro | National Action Council | 5,756 | 0.01 |
| Pere Ajuwa | Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria | 4,473 | 0.01 |
| Mojisola Adekunle Obasanjo | Masses Movement of Nigeria | 3,757 | 0.01 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 2,538,246 | ||
| Total | 42,018,735 | 100 | |