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.

Anti-corruption

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Jailed ~500 politicians, officials, and businessmen for corruption during his tenure as Head of State.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Investigated and exposed the $2 billion arms deal from the Goodluck Jonathan administration’s procurement under Boko Haram insurgency funding.

Federal Government of Nigeria, 2016–ongoing (investigative committee actions) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Implemented the Transformation Agenda with a focus on anti-corruption measures, though allegations of mismanagement persisted.

President of Nigeria (2010–2015) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Energy

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Built 21 petroleum storage depots across Nigeria (Lagos to Maiduguri, Calabar to Gusau) and constructed a pipeline network connecting Bonny terminal, Port Harcourt refinery, and proposed Kaduna refinery projects.

Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources (1978–1979) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Enacted fuel subsidy removal as part of economic reforms, despite protests and criticism.

President of Nigeria (2010–2015) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Governance & Reform

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Divided the North-Eastern State into three new states: Bauchi, Borno, and Gongola (February 1976).

Governor of Borno State (3 Feb 1976 – 15 Mar 1976) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Created Borno State as a new federal entity after its separation from the North-Eastern State.

Federal government (post-division, 1976) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Passed Decree Number 4, the Protection Against False Accusations Decree, a repressive press law.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Moved the National Home Grown School Feeding Program (NHGSF) from the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under Sadiya Umar Farouq.

Ministry-level reform in Nigeria (2018–2019) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Reformed Bayelsa State’s administration by succeeding Diepreye Alamieyeseigha as governor after his removal from office over allegations of money laundering.

Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State (1999–2005), Acting President (February–May 2010), Substantive President (June 2010–May 2015) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Enacted the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act (2014), a controversial legislative measure banning same-sex marriage.

President of Nigeria (2010–2015) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Economy & Trade

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Announced the 1984 National Budget, including measures like a temporary ban on federal public-sector recruitment, interest rate hikes, capital project halts, state borrowing prohibitions, and a 15% reduction in Shagari’s 1983 budget.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1984 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Implemented import substitution industrialization with priority for local raw materials and spare parts, reducing reliance on imports.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Enterprise grant support

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Established the N-Power program as part of the National Social Investment Program to provide job training and monthly stipends to unemployed Nigerian youth.

Federal Government of Nigeria, 2016 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Reliefs and scholarships

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Launched the National Social Investment Program with four key initiatives: N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCTP), Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP) including TraderMoni, MarketMoni, FarmerMoni, and NHGSF.

Federal Government of Nigeria, 2016–ongoing · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Security & Defense

Buhari Muhammadu

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

Led the Nigerian military during the Chadian-Nigerian War (1983–1987) as part of a joint operation against Chad.

Military junta (1983–1985) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Led military forces in chasing Chadian invaders from Borno State in 1983, resulting in over 100 victims and prisoners of war.

General Officer Commanding (3rd Armoured Division), 1981–1983; Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Established the National Security Organization (NSO) with expanded powers to suppress public dissent.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Arrested Fela Kuti for allegedly illegally exporting foreign currency, sentenced him to five years in prison.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Issued Decree 20 on illegal ship bunkering and drug trafficking, targeting organized crime with punitive measures.

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1985 · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Declared a border closure with Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon in April 1984 to expel illegal migrants and foreign workers (reopened in 1985).

Head of State (Supreme Military Council), 1983–1984 (closure); 1985 (reopening) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Deployed the Nigerian Police Force and Army nationwide to counter anti-government protests after the October 2020 EndSARS demonstrations, citing law-and-order concerns.

Presidential Administration (June 2021) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Launched the Presidential Task Force for COVID-19 control, including a two-week lockdown in major cities (Abuja, Lagos, Ogun) on 30 March 2020.

Presidential Administration (March 2020) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Promised

No matching promise in the records we hold.

On the record

No documented action on this topic in our records yet.

Education

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

Held honorary roles and diplomatic positions post-presidency related to education and regional development in Bayelsa State.

Honorary Special Adviser (post-presidency) · Verified 2026-10-02 · Source ↗

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