The victory of the former president inhibits the whole country

The old president is also the new one: incumbent Muhammadu Buhari wins the election with 56 percent of the vote. His opponent Atiku Abubaka scents fraud, but there are no proofs yet of any major manipulations.

A few months ago, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari pointed out that he was still alive. This had given rise to doubts after the 76-year-old had disappeared for months of treatment to London and then made no particularly vivid impression. By 2015, he had sparked euphoria when he came to power with promises to revolutionize the most populous country in Africa, fight corruption and distribute oil wealth equitably. Little has remained of that. With the Breaking News in Nigeria this is essential.

Nevertheless, voters have now confirmed Buhari as president. However, only a third voted, and of these, just over half chose Buhari. He was therefore supported by only about every sixth voter. The election is a vote of no confidence against the ruling elite, which has been made up of the same people for decades. Buhari has been a coup, now he is the Democrat. Ultimately, he is above all an old man in an incredibly young country.

For the Boys

The boys do not expect much from their politicians; most of them like to go abroad. But hardly any country in Africa has such cultural wealth – and so many witty people. One can only hope that the old men will eventually make way for a new generation.

• Incumbent Muhammadu Buhari has won the presidential election in Nigeria. The 76-year-old received 56 percent of the vote, ahead of challenger Atiku Abubakar, a businessman and ex-vice president who scored 41 percent. Nigeria is around 190 years old the most populous country in Africa million inhabitants. Thanks to its oil wealth, it was at times the largest economy on the continent.
• In Nigeria wins the one candidate who has the absolute majority of voters, he also has to reach at least a quarter of the vote in all 36 states and the capital Abuja. Nigeria has a Muslim north and a Christian south; the scheme is designed to prevent one section of the population from dominating the other. According to the Nigerian Electoral Commission, Muhammadu Buhari meets both requirements.

The new government will intensify its efforts to improve the security situation, restructure the economy and fight corruption,” said Buhari after his election victory. With such promises Buhari had won his first term in 2015, but in the opinion of his critics, he has made little progress. In the north of Nigeria, the Boko Haram Islamists are spreading fear and terror, and the fight against corruption is not really progressing.

The turnout was only 35.4 percent, which was due to the short-term postponement of the election by a week, but above all to the disappointment of many voters. Nevertheless, Buhari triumphed because he has faithful adherents in the Muslim north and many voters feared that the corruption under Atiku could be even worse. A spokesman for Atikus announced that it would challenge the result in court. Buhari had dismissed the chief judge a few weeks before the election – because of allegations of corruption, the president said, because he wanted to manipulate the elections, criticized the opposition. For electoral fraud of greater extent but so far no evidence available.