Finally, Nigeria has a new president. Muhammadu Buhari, a former army general and reformed democrat, beat the sitting president Goodluck Jonathan in the most closely contested election in the country’s history. It was also the first to be played out at such a scale on social media.
First came the month-and-a-half postponement, justified on the grounds that Jonathan’s government needed more time to secure the north from Boko Haram. Some were concerned that this would be the first of endless delays, Nigerian commentator Max Siollun suggested it had been a good thing for democracy:
#Nigeriadecides Would people have been so fervent about it if election took place 6 weeks ago?
— Max Siollun (@maxsiollun) March 29, 2015
As everyone waited for the results, thousands of Nigerians took to Twitter to discuss the election using the hashtag #NigeriaDecides (or, as Africa is a Country noted: #Nigeriadecidesveryslowly).
The term was trending in Nigeria through the vote counting, with the names of key states also ranking high as their results were announced.
By Tuesday afternoon #Nigeriahasdecided and GEJ WAS A USELESS PRESIDENT, referring to Jonathan, had taken its place.
#NigeriaDecidesVeryVerySlowly but surely it's almost done. Surely.
— AFRICA IS A COUNTRY (@AfricasaCountry) March 31, 2015
It's a historic day in Nigeria. And time, in my books, for a new hashtag: #NigeriaHasDecided
— tolu ogunlesi (@toluogunlesi) March 31, 2015
Concerned about rising tensions in the absence of a result, Buhari urged for calm as the polls closed. He tweeted: “Fellow Nigerians, I urge you to exercise patience and vigilance as we wait for all results to be announced”. Jonathan used Facebook to say “We waited patiently to vote in these elections, now I want to urge all Nigerians to also wait patiently for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to collate and announce results.”
And then all there was left to do was wait.
‘Keep Jega and carry on’
With pressure mounting, the calm demeanour of the election chief Attahiru Jega was the subject of much admiration. On Tuesday morning, in the face of defeat, a member of Goodluck Jonathan’s party issued accusations of bias, but Jega remained inscrutable. Twitter was soon full of jokes and memes respecting his patience:
#NigeriaDecides: Nigerians are so creative!! #LetNigeriaDecide pic.twitter.com/dx8mfN4sQj
— EiE Nigeria (@EiENigeria) March 31, 2015
This is Jega atm pic.twitter.com/zEnQdFGETV
— Muhsin X (@MuhsinBashir) March 31, 2015
Live election analysis
The waiting took its toll on journalists and election analysts painstakingly recording the results. James Schneider, the editor of the New African, live tweeted the process over three days. He ran into problems with wifi and at one point his laptop froze. By Tuesday afternoon he said: “I’m starting to physically feel the last three days.” He is thought to be the first to call the result on Monday evening, soon followed by the Nigerian community news group Sahara Reporters.
Imad Mesdoua, a political analyst at Africa Matters, created his own map and coloured in the states as the results came in – pink for Buhari (#GMB) blue for Jonathan (#GEJ)
After 31 states + FCT: #GEJ 12 states and FCT (10,866,148) #GMB 19 states (13,760,747) #NigeriaDecides #Nigeria pic.twitter.com/Un5huE2PEU
— Imad Mesdoua (@ImadMesdoua) March 31, 2015
Team Buhari
On Tuesday live TV pictures showed Buhari in Abuja waiting for the result, and as it filtered through there were jubilant scenes from his supporters across the country: some created victory playlists; some were dancing in the streets and one man had dressed well for the occasion.
The peoples General watching the announcement of results in Abuja. #NigeriaDecides #iVotedGMB #SitRoom15 pic.twitter.com/NJ8qHX29tF
— Mr El-bonga™ (@el_bonga) March 31, 2015
APC supporters celebrate #Nigeriadecides pic.twitter.com/JfMf9O7g7b
— Tomi Oladipo (@Tomi_Oladipo) March 31, 2015
Dapper member of Buhari's team waits for final result. pic.twitter.com/9wPVCs6WuF
— andrew harding (@BBCAndrewH) March 31, 2015
And never one to let an occasion pass without comment, @PresidentObiang, a spoof account in the name of Equatorial Guinea’s leader Teodoro Obiang (with the bio “Dictator. Tyrant. Megalomaniac”), offered to help Jonathan plan his next move:
Anyone know of a job opportunity for a soon-to-be unemployed man with lots of leadership experience? Asking for a friend. #Nigeriadecides
— President Obiang (@PresidentObiang) March 31, 2015
