March 28 - April 2, 2015

1) Election Results and Surrounding Events

Privately owned

News Sources Buhari: The Soldier, Politician, President-Elect Punch
Privately-owned Newspaper, 1 April 2015

• Buhari ran in the 2015 Presidential election as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress. His platform is built around his image as a staunch anti-corruption fighter and his incorruptible and honest reputation
• Former General Muhammadu Buhari is the new president-elect and winner of the March 28, 2015 presidential election, in accordance with the votes counted by Nigeria’s Electoral agency, the Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Key Points in Nigeria’s Election Win The Guardian
Lagos-based Daily, 1 April 2015

• Voter ID card readers (attempt to mitigate electoral fraud)
• Political Support
  • It is thought that Buhari won due to his having built a stronger, broader national coalition
• Boko Haram
  • A tipping point was reached when Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls on April 14 last year, sparking global outrage at the crime but also at Jonathan’s handling of the crisis
  • The APC capitalized on this as well as former military ruler Buhari’s background as an army general to position him as qualified to handle the insurgency, although not everyone is convinced
• Change o Quite simply, many Nigerians had had enough of the PDP, which has been in power for 16 years since the end of decades of military rule
• Economy
  • Nigeria may have become Africa’s biggest economy during Jonathan’s time in office but few felt the benefits, with the success cancelled out by the global fall in oil prices, on which the economy depends

Gunmen Attack Bauchi Voters, Police Stations Punch
Privately-owned Newspaper, 29 March 2015

• An unspecified number of gunmen in a convoy of about 10 vehicles on Sunday stormed many polling units in Kirfi and Alkaleri Local Government Areas of Bauchi State and destroyed many electoral materials

State-run Media

Explosions Rock Polling Stations in Enugu
Awka Daily Independent, Lagos-based Daily, 29 March 2015

• The Presidential and National Assembly elections in Enugu State on Saturday started on a horrific note as a bomb exploded near a polling station inside WTC Primary School, New Layout, Enugu, while another went off at a polling center in Awka, Anambra State 
• It is unknown who was responsible for the two IED explosions, but it is suspected to be linked to Boko Haram Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG): Twitter Feed (30 March 2015)
• “Foiled attack by unknown gunmen in Tafawa Balewa Town # Bauchi State. #NigeriaDecides #NPFElectionSecurity.” 

2) Boko Haram

Privately owned

Nigeria Recaptures Gwoza from Boko Haram
Guardian, Lagos-based Daily, 27 March 2015

• Nigeria’s military on Friday announced that troops had retaken the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram, from which the group declared their caliphate last year

State-run Media

Soldiers Battle Boko Haram in Bauchi
Daily Independent, Lagos-based Daily, 30 March 2015

• Nigerian troops have engaged Boko Haram insurgents in fierce battle in Dungulbe village in Bauchi State
• The attacks on Alkaleri and Kirfi Local Government Areas of Bauchi State by the insurgent group caused tensions in Bauchi, the state capital
• There were rumours in Bauchi that the sect members had entered Bauchi metropolis, causing panic among residents, while the few people who came out to vote hurriedly returned home to avoid being caught in any cross fire