A Look at Nigeria's 2015 General Elections

Nigeria’s 2015 general elections were widely watched by observers, with significant implications for the democratic future of the country. Despite security concerns stemming from Boko Haram, election observation missions applauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its impartiality and professionalism and Nigerians for their enthusiastic participation. While observation missions noted the challenges presented by the use of new technologies, the 2015 general elections were a major development for Nigeria. Indeed, the winning candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, is the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria, setting an important democratic precedent for the country.