Buhari reelected

On February 23, 2019, Nigeria held its sixth presidential election since the return to civilian rule in 1999. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner with 15.2 million votes, defeating former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who received 11.3 million votes. The election was initially scheduled for February 16 but was postponed by INEC just hours before voting was to begin, citing logistical challenges.

Buhari's first term had been marked by economic recession, rising insecurity particularly in the Northeast and Middle Belt regions, and ongoing challenges with corruption. His campaign promised continued anti-corruption efforts and improved security, while Atiku's platform focused on economic restructuring and job creation for Nigeria's growing youth population. The election took place against a backdrop of concerns about vote buying, violence in some states, and questions about INEC's preparedness following the last-minute postponement.