Buhari wins reelection with low-turnout concerns

President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a second term in Nigeria's 2019 presidential election, defeating former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) by nearly 4 million votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Buhari the winner with 15.2 million votes against Atiku's 11.3 million. However, the election was marked by significantly lower voter turnout compared to 2015, raising questions about citizen engagement and the credibility of the electoral process.

The 2019 election took place amid growing concerns about Buhari's first-term performance, including persistent security challenges from Boko Haram and banditry, economic recession recovery, and corruption allegations. Atiku, a businessman and former customs officer, campaigned on promises to revitalize the economy and create jobs for Nigeria's growing youth population. The election was postponed by one week due to logistical challenges, and voting was disrupted in several states by violence and technical issues with INEC's card readers and result transmission systems.