Nigerian Elections 2015: Security, Politics, and Media Control

Overview of Nigeria and Electoral Context

Nigeria is the most densely populated nation on the African continent, as one in five Africans is Nigerian. It is economically and culturally dominant in the region and has developed so rapidly that it ranks among the world's top oil producers. Its capital, Lagos, is a thriving center teeming with high technology and telecommunications industries, symbolic of the nation's intense cultural vitality.

Nigeria's presidential and legislative elections have been at the forefront of international attention in recent years, with mounting tensions surrounding their postponement. These elections were originally scheduled for February 14 but were delayed six weeks to March 28, citing security concerns. This delay triggered significant domestic and international debate about electoral credibility, democratic representation, and the legitimacy of the postponement decision.

Security Crisis and Election Postponement

The postponement was attributed to increased violent activities by Boko Haram and its affiliated forces, which aimed to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria's northeast region. The insurgency resulted in mass displacement, with more than a million people leaving their homes amid widespread violence. The terrorism spread into neighboring areas of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, prompting the African Union to deploy thousands of troops to counter the Islamist militants.

Election Commission Chairman Attahiru Jega announced the rescheduling, emphasizing the need to allow security agencies sufficient time to ensure safe elections. Jega appealed to Nigerian citizens, stating: "we wish to call on all Nigerians to accept this in good faith to deepen democracy in our country Nigeria." However, civil rights groups protested the postponement, arguing that the delay could further disenfranchise voters and undermine electoral participation. Additional factors contributing to the original exclusion of voters included threats from Boko Haram and delays in distributing voter identification cards nationwide.

The election postponement became a flashpoint in the presidential race between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and opposition candidate Muhamadu Buhari, a former military dictator. Jonathan's administration pressed for the delay, while Buhari and his All Progressive Congress (APC) party opposed it. Both campaigns warned of potential violence if their respective candidates were defeated, signaling the high stakes and deep polarization surrounding the election.

Presidential Politics and International Pressure

Analysts noted that the 2015 election was exceptionally competitive and close, making it likely to be the most hotly contested since the transition to democracy in 1999. Jonathan's ruling party had won all elections since the end of military rule, but its hold on power had weakened considerably. The government's military failure to suppress the Boko Haram insurgency, combined with growing corruption and a weakening economy, had diminished public confidence. These factors affected Nigeria's oil export capabilities and troubled the nation's 170 million people, who increasingly sought stronger democratic governance and more effective state performance.

The United States weighed in on the postponement controversy, urging that elections proceed on schedule. During a visit to Nigeria, US Secretary of State John Kerry stated: "one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram was by holding credible and peaceful elections, on time... it's imperative that these elections happen on time as scheduled." This statement reflected broader international concern about the legitimacy and security of Nigeria's democratic process, particularly given the nation's geopolitical significance.

The National Broadcasting Commission announced sanctions against multiple media houses throughout Nigeria for violating election commission codes. Mark Ojiah, Director of Spectrum Administration, reported that broadcast stations had committed a range of infractions. He noted that in the previous election cycle in 2011, approximately 35 broadcast stations had been sanctioned, and he emphasized that the 2015 elections would be monitored for fairness, decency, and equitable access.

Media Regulation and Broadcast Standards

Specific violations included advertisements broadcast fewer than 24 hours before voting, undue advantage given to certain parties in programming, and inequitable distribution of airtime across candidates. Additional infractions cited by Ojiah included negative advertisements, speculative outcome reporting or announcement of predicted results, and failure to maintain proper logs of political programming.

Director-General Emeka Mbah noted that government-owned television stations were frequent violators, though he acknowledged that no broadcaster wished to jeopardize their investment in the industry. The Commission also targeted phone-in programs and live political broadcasts that allowed paid advertisers to make unfiltered statements. Mbah explained that while individuals could purchase airtime, they sometimes believed this purchase entitled them to broadcast any content without regard to electoral regulations.

Commission officials acknowledged that they did not dispute broadcasters' right to generate revenue from political programming, recognizing that financial sustainability was necessary. Instead, they placed responsibility on the broadcasters and stations themselves to enforce standards, rather than on politicians or political parties purchasing airtime. Broadcast media regulation became a central tool for managing the electoral environment during the 2015 campaign.