Buhari Muhammadu
15,191,847 votes (55.6%)
Buhari Muhammadu is a Nigerian politician who contested the 2019 Presidential Elections as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate. They won with 15.2M votes (55.6%).
Biography
Muhammadu Buhari was a Nigerian general and politician who ruled as military dictator of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985. His tenure included the overthrow of the Second Republic and a period of strict governance marked by the War Against Indiscipline (WAI).
During his military rule, Buhari implemented austere economic policies, targeting corruption and economic mismanagement. His administration introduced repressive measures, including the freezing of bank accounts, military trials for corruption, and harsh penalties for dissent. Economic reforms led to rising inflation and widespread dissatisfaction, culminating in his overthrow by Ibrahim Babangida in 1985.
After his military detention, Buhari ran for president on multiple occasions, first as an ANPP candidate in 2003 and 2007, then as a CPC candidate in 2011. His political career shifted to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, where he emerged as its presidential candidate for the 2015 election, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Buhari won the 2015 presidential election, becoming Nigeria’s first incumbent president to lose re-election. His second term was marked by challenges including economic recession, high unemployment, and security crises like Boko Haram insurgency. Despite his anti-corruption rhetoric, his administration faced criticism for inefficiency and slow policy implementation.
Born on 17 December 1942 in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari’s early life included military training, service in the Nigerian Civil War, and leadership roles in successive military governments. His military background shaped his authoritarian governance style, though his later civilian presidency emphasized anti-corruption and economic reforms.
A staunch anti-corruption advocate, Buhari campaigned on integrity and promised to combat corruption, though his administration’s record included controversies like the $2 billion arms deal and plagiarized speeches. His leadership was marked by a mix of reformist rhetoric and persistent criticism over governance style and economic mismanagement.
Following his two terms, Buhari retired to his home in Daura, Katsina State, where he lived out his final years before his death in London on 13 July 2025. His legacy includes both admiration for his anti-corruption stance and criticism for authoritarian tendencies and economic struggles during his presidency.
Party Positions
Policy positions from the All Progressives Congress (APC) party manifesto.
Agriculture
Launches the Irrigate Nigeria Project as a public-private partnership to develop small-scale irrigation and water catchment systems using modern technology to boost agricultural productivity.
Security & Defense
Will deploy modern aerial surveillance and advanced technology to monitor and deter intrusions into oil pipelines, power stations, and other critical national infrastructure in real time.
Environment & Climate
Accelerates the environmental cleanup and re-establishment of fisheries and profitable aquacultural activities in the Niger-Delta region to counter violent extremism and poverty-driven disaffection.
Economy & Trade
Will implement the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and additional favorable policies to attract investment in deep-water assets within 6 months, including encouraging signature bonus negotiations and royalty reliefs.
Infrastructure
Creates regional industrial hubs in specific zones (North West, North East, South East, South South, South West, North Central) to focus on labor-intensive manufacturing, with tailored investments (e.g., textiles, dry ports, glass, pottery, solid minerals, regulated mining).
Enterprise grant support
Work with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to simplify loan processes for commercial banks, mandate federally owned banks to provide low-cost loans to youth-led enterprises, and expand business incubation centers to support youth innovation.
Energy
Will mandate gas metering equipment on all facilities where gas flaring occurs within 6 months and establish a special enforcement unit to monitor compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on gas flaring reduction, with non-compliance leading to financial penalties for affected communities.
Governance & Reform
Reserve at least 3 cabinet positions for individuals under 40 and 6 more positions for members under the age of 40, and mandate that at least 20% of political appointments to Ministries/Dangomas (MDAs) be reserved for individuals under 40.
Education
Raises the priority of addressing out-of-school children, establishes a task force to review and strengthen programs like school feeding, and aims to reduce disaffected youth recruitment by violent groups.
Healthcare
Will establish a network of upgraded, equipped, and staffed general hospitals in every Local Government Area, tertiary facilities in each State, and world-class specialist hospitals in each geo-political zone to improve healthcare accessibility and quality.
Technology & Digital
Supports the development of MSMEs through partnerships with fintech players to expand access to capital and business development services.
Reliefs and scholarships
Commits to a conditional income support program requiring recipients to meet human capital goals (school attendance, healthcare, nutrition) in exchange for payments.
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Sources
Photo: Wikipedia ↗