Nigerians are so used to the idea that an incumbent should win presidential elections that President Goodluck Jonathan's failure to beat Gen Muhammadu Buhari needs some explaining. Here are five reasons why the opposition won:

1: Harder to rig
Past elections have been marred by serious irregularities and suspicions of rigging. In 2007 observers said the presidential poll was not "credible". In 2011 the vote was considered to be better run but observers said that rigging and fraud still took place.
This time the electoral commission took more steps to prevent rigging, including new biometric voters cards.
Also President Jonathan's party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), had lost control of some key states which meant it could not control the electoral process there.

2: Boko Haram and security

The Nigerian army has made some recent gains against Boko Haram, but not enough to convince Nigerians
The election took place against the background of an Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the country. The Boko Haram militant group has killed 20,000 people and forced some three million others from their homes and President Jonathan was criticised for not getting to grips with this.
The poll was delayed for six weeks to give time for the security situation to improve, but even though most areas controlled by Boko Haram were recaptured, it seems to have come too late for many people.

3: United opposition, crumbling PDP

The extra six weeks of vigorous campaigning by the PDP was not enough to halt the slide in the party's fortunes
The PDP has been described as an election-winning machine. When it was created it united a northern elite with leading politicians from the south, but that alliance has broken up and the party lost some key figures. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo came out against Mr Jonathan.
At the same time, the opposition managed to unite under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner. The last six weeks of desperate and dirty campaigning, in which the APC responded in kind, was not enough to turn the tide.

4: Economy

Nigeria's economy is growing but the wealth is not being spread around
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and its largest economy, but many fail to feel the benefits with nearly half the population living below the poverty line. Continued corruption is seen as partly being to blame.
National income is due to grow by more than 5% this year and next year, but people did not seem in the mood to thank Mr Jonathan for this.

5: Time for a change

APC supporters chanted "change" wherever they went and it seems to have caught the mood. The PDP has been in power since the end of military rule in 1999, and 2015 is the year that Nigerians decided that someone else should have a go at sorting things out.

President-elect Buhari now has to prove he really can change things.

http://m.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32136295

Hahahha FTC again..

Its unfortunate the way the Almighty PDP lost to the General. Well the only thing constant in this life is change. And this year APC triggered the change in Nigeria.. Once again I congratulate General Buhari.

Sai Buhari
This year is your year

GEJ lost because the true Nigerians needed change.

GEJ lost because Nigerians needed positive changes which he couldn't offer.

Confirm!

It's well.. We have a new president..

GEJ deserves credit for conducting two credible elections.
That cannot be taken from him.

Space bookers will be sent to jail in this dispensation.... Take note.
Meanwhile, waiting for the likes of Temitemi, oremussanctus, tit, and other tanoids with very funny an questionable handles to tender their congratulatory messages.
Sai Baba!!!

That awkward moment when Association of Witches, Association of Herbalists, Gurumaraji and other clandestine groups support GEJ. It leaves me with the question who then will God support? Can God and devil support the same candidate? That's absolutely impossicant!

In one statement, people were tired; they wanted change!

Thank God change has come

too much corruption

Jonathan was moving with the wrong people

SORROUNDED BY TOO MANY KLEPTOCRATS

HE DOES NOT HAVE A SERIOUS DEMEANOR ABOUT HIMSELF

LOOKS LIKE A PUSHOVER

SAI PRESIDENT MUHAMMAD BUHARI

Wer are GEJ fans

ok

He has 101 reasons to loose

ok

thou I didn't vote U, Congrats to Our President elect, GMB. Who am I not to embrace the wind of Change?


Situation Report 4rm Otuoke; Militant camps deserted, fishermen association preparing for a ceremonial home coming of the king of the Zoo.

Jm

6. Greed.

Well said!

Not a fan of Buhari....until now that is (I'm always on the winning team ) neither did I like GEJ that much, will congratulate him greatly when he's sworn in and wish him and Nigerians the best


PS: I didn't vote due to my location and wouldn't have if I had the chance to

Jonathan lost for a Million reasons. Him shit for church wen Pastor dey preach. Father Mbaka and others actually warned him. Who remember the white bird that refused to fly wen Mama peace went for "consultation". But Mama Peace and Jonathan are very stubborn sha!

ChANGE

I guess they re fed up of the system esp epileptic supply of power..

And again, lies and deceits..



Sai baba

Yes o. na God win

When the "likes" on Nairaland showed them, they called us APC e-rats creating multiple accounts, when Google votes proved it; they said GMB was an online president; Dele Mohammadu showed them the graph but they said "na lie, GEJ till 2019 (temitemi1)".

We told them SouthWest will vote GMB; they created a thread: "Beyond propaganda, GEJ is favoured to win SouthWest".

Now we have been proven right.
The masses have spoken.
UP GMB!!!!!

Nigerians like me didn't vote for Buhari because we think he is the messiah that will end Nigeria problem. Buhari won because most people are tired of pdp 16 years rule and Buhari was the only credible option for change in power.

hmmmm

we have lost

we accept defeat

congrats to APC fans