*Note: Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential race.  

At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Nigeria

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Goodluck JONATHAN *
• Head of Government: President Goodluck JONATHAN
• Assembly: Nigeria has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate with 109 seats and the House of Representatives with 360 seats.
• The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

*The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term). An absolute majority or at least 25% in two-thirds of the states is required for a candidate to be elected in the first round.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by qualified plurality vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Senate 109 members are elected by simple majority vote in multi-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms*. In the House of Representatives 360 members are elected by simple majority vote in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms.*

*Three members are elected from each of the 36 states and one from Abuja. There is one single member constituency (Federal Capital Territory).

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Tunde ANIFOWOSE-KELANI
• Ishaka Paul OFEMILE (Vice President)
  • Party: Action Alliance  (AA)
• Rafiu SALAU
• Akuchie Clinton CLIFF (Vice President)
  • Party: Alliance for Democracy (AD)​
• Ganiyu O. GALADIMA
• Ojengbede Oluremi FARIDA (Vice President)
  • Party: Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)
• Dr. Mani Ibrahim AHMAD
• Obianuju MURPHY-OZOHUE (Vice President)
  • Party: African Democratic Congress (ADC)
• Ayeni Musa ADEBAYO
• Anthony Faith OLOGBOSERE (Vice President)
  • Party: African Peoples Alliance (APA)
• Muhammadu BUHARI
• Yemi OSINBAJO (Vice President)
  • Party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
• Chief Sam EKE
• Hassana HASSAN (Vice President)
  • Party : Citizens Popular Party (CPP)
• High Chief Ambrose N. Albert OWURI
• Alhaji Haruna Yahaya SHABA (Vice President)
  • Party : HOPE
• Comfort Oluremi SONAIYA
• Seidu BOBBOI (Vice President)
  • Party: Kowa Party​
• Chief Martin ONOVO
• Ibrahim MOHAMMED (Vice President)
  • Party : National Conscience Party (NCP)
• Goodluck Ebele JONATHAN
• Mohammed Namadi SAMBO (Vice President)
  • Party : People's Democratic Party (PDP)
• Allagoa Kelvin CHINEDU
• Arabamhen MARY (Vice President)
  • Party: People’s Party of NIgeria (PPN)
• Godson Mgbodile Ohaenyem OKOYE
• Haruna ADAMU (Vice President)
  • Party: United Democratic Party (UDP)
• Chief (Dr.) Chekwas OKORIE
• Bello UMAR (Vice President)
  • Party: United Progressive Party (UPP)

Population and registered voters:

• Population: 182,201,962 (2015)
• Registered Voters: 67,422,005 (2015)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 89,413,012 (2015)

·         Is Nigeria a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 April 1984)

·         Has Nigeria ratified CEDAW: Yes (13 June 1985)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 20 (House of Representatives); 7 (Senate) following the 2015 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 152 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Nigeria a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Nigeria ratified CRPD: Yes (24 September 2010)

·         Population with a disability: 27,330,294 (est.)