Compare Buhari Muhammadu vs Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Head-to-head career stats, election results, and policy positions, side by side.

Buhari MuhammaduAPC

Goodluck Ebele JonathanPDP

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Born17 December 1942 (age 83)20 November 1957 (age 68)

State—Bayelsa →

ReligionIslamEvangelicalism

EthnicityFulaniIjaw

EducationUnited States Army War College, Defence Services Staff College, Mons Officer Cadet SchoolUniversity of Port Harcourt

OccupationMilitary personnelPolitician

BirthplaceDauraOtuoke

Elections21

Wins20

Losses01

Parties11

Career total votes30.6M12.9M

Head-to-Head

2015 Presidential Elections

APC15,424,921 votes (53.96%) ✓ WON

View candidacy →

PDP12,853,162 votes (44.96%)

View candidacy →

Policy Comparison

Promises and documented actions in office, topic by topic - from public, attributable sources.

Economy & Trade

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Rebased Nigeria’s GDP for the first time in over a decade, making it Africa’s largest economy (overtaking South Africa and Egypt).

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Energy

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Launched the 'Roadmap for Power Sector Reform' to achieve stable electricity supply by breaking up PHCN into 15 firms and contracting with private companies.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Announced the partial removal of fuel subsidies (pump price change from ₦97 to ₦147 per liter), effective January 2012.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Implemented the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Program (SURE-P) to reinvest fuel subsidy savings into infrastructure and maternal health.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Foreign Policy

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Reviewed Nigeria’s foreign policy to emphasize citizen-focused diplomacy and economic diplomacy.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Governance & Reform

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Convened the 2014 National Conference to debate socio-political reforms and national development challenges.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Signed the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act into law in January 2014 after passage by the National Assembly.

President of Nigeria, January 2014 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Infrastructure

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Jonathan’s administration oversaw construction of the Abuja–Kaduna railway as part of its national rail programme.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Upgraded Akanu Ibiam Airport in Enugu to an international airport for the first time since independence.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Oversaw the construction and beautification of the Lagos-Benin Expressway.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Oversaw the construction of the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Oversaw the construction of most parts of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

Jonathan's administration oversaw construction work on the second Niger Bridge between Onitsha and Asaba.

President of Nigeria, 2010–2015 · Verified 2026-07-31 · Source ↗

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