Muhammadu Buhari

=== Presidential campaigns and elections===
[[File:GMB, Akande, Ajimobi at PGLS1.jpg|thumb|Buhari (left) with Governor [[Abiola Ajimobi]] (right)]]
[[File:Atiku, GMB at PGLS 1.jpg|thumb|Buhari with former Vice President [[Atiku Abubakar]] (left)]]'''2003 presidential election'''

In 2003, Buhari ran for office in the [[2003 Nigerian presidential election|presidential election]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6508055.stm | work=BBC News | title=Nigeria: Facts and figures | date=17 April 2007 | access-date=24 June 2009 | archive-date=1 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901035339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6508055.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> as the candidate of the [[All Nigeria People's Party]] (ANPP). He was defeated by the [[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party]] incumbent, President [[Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ]], by more than 11 million votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buhari at 69: The leader Nigeria lacks - Daily Trust |url=https://dailytrust.com/buhari-at-69-the-leader-nigeria-lacks/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=dailytrust.com}}</ref>

====2007 presidential election====

On 18 December 2006, Buhari was nominated as the consensus candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party. His main challenger in the April 2007 polls was the ruling PDP candidate, [[Umaru Yar'Adua]], who hailed from the same home state of [[Katsina State|Katsina]]. Buhari officially took 18% of the vote to Yar'Adua's 70%, but Buhari rejected these results.<ref name=Huge>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6584393.stm "Huge win for Nigeria's Yar'Adua"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426235748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6584393.stm |date=26 April 2007 }}, BBC News, 23 April 2007.</ref> After Yar'Adua took office, he called for a government of national unity to bring on board aggrieved opposition members. The ANPP joined the government with appointment of its national chairman as a member of Yar'Adua's cabinet, but Buhari denounced this agreement.<ref>Felix Onuah and Camillus Eboh, [https://archive.today/20070517203204/http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=nw20070704220154487C404988 "Nigerian president picks ministers"], Reuters (''IOL''), 4 July 2007.</ref>

==== 2011 presidential election ====

In March 2010, Buhari left the ANPP for the [[Congress for Progressive Change]] (CPC), a party he had helped to found. He said that he had supported foundation of the CPC "as a solution to the debilitating, ethical and ideological conflicts in my former party the ANPP".<ref name=Mamah20100318>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201003180375.html |title=Buhari Joins Congress for Progressive Change |work=Vanguard |author=Emeka Mamah |date=18 March 2010 |access-date=22 April 2011 |archive-date=19 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019083100/http://allafrica.com/stories/201003180375.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Buhari was the CPC presidential candidate in the 2011 election, running against incumbent President [[Goodluck Jonathan]] of the [[People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)|People's Democratic Party]] (PDP), [[Mallam Nuhu Ribadu]] of [[Action Congress of Nigeria]] (ACN), and [[Ibrahim Shekarau]] of ANPP. They were the major contenders among 20 candidates.<ref name="INEC">{{cite web|title=Summary of the 2011 Presidential election results |url=http://www.inecnigeria.org/results/presidential/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529123316/http://www.inecnigeria.org/results/presidential/ |archive-date=29 May 2011 }}</ref> Buhari campaigned on an anti-corruption platform and pledged to remove immunity protections from government officials. He also gave support to enforcement of [[Sharia law]] in Nigeria's northern states, which had previously caused him political difficulties among Christian voters in the country's south.<ref name="autogenerated422"/>

The elections were marred by widespread sectarian violence, which claimed the lives of 800 people across the country, as Buhari's supporters attacked Christian settlements in the country's central region.<ref name="cfr">{{cite web|url = http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2014/12/12/nigerian-religious-leaders-advise-political-candidates/|title = Nigerian Religious Leaders Advise Political Candidates|date = 12 December 2014|website = cfr.org|access-date = 19 January 2015|archive-date = 13 January 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150113121021/http://blogs.cfr.org/campbell/2014/12/12/nigerian-religious-leaders-advise-political-candidates/|url-status = live}}</ref> The three-day uprising was blamed in part on Buhari's inflammatory comments.<ref name="cfr" /> In spite of assurances from Human Rights Watch, which had judged the elections "among the fairest in Nigeria's history", Buhari claimed that the vote was flawed and warned<ref name="cfr" /> that "If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Soyombo|first1=Fisayo|title=Opinion Will Muhammadu Buhari be Nigeria's next president?|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/12/will-muhammadu-buhari-be-niger-2014123191647111939.html|website=aljazeera.com|access-date=19 January 2015|date=31 December 2014|quote=In 2011, Buhari was accused of inciting the violence that followed his loss to Jonathan. The following year, he said "the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood" should the 2015 election be rigged. Buhari has shed blood before for his presidential ambition, some people believe. And they think he would do it again. Such a man, they reason, should never taste power.|archive-date=11 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111054340/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/12/will-muhammadu-buhari-be-niger-2014123191647111939.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Ndujihe|first1=Clifford|last2=Idonor|first2=Daniel|title=Post-election violence: FG panel report indicts Buhari|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/post-election-violence-fg-panel-report-indicts-buhari/|website=vanguardngr.com|access-date=19 January 2015|date=11 October 2011|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119225955/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/post-election-violence-fg-panel-report-indicts-buhari/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Buhari remained a "folk hero" to some for his vocal opposition to corruption.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.naij.com/306026-buharis-presidential-attempts-and-2015-chances.html|title = Buhari's Presidential Attempts And 2015 Chances|date = November 2014|website = naij.com|access-date = 21 January 2015|archive-date = 13 November 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141113064255/http://www.naij.com/306026-buharis-presidential-attempts-and-2015-chances.html|url-status = live}}</ref> He won 12,214,853 votes, coming in second to Jonathan, who polled 22,495,187 votes and was declared the winner.<ref name="Next20110421">{{cite web |url=http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5691404-146/story.csp |title=Congress for Progressive Change considers going to court and Buhari declared that he will make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan. Since then the Boko Haram Sect has been bombing Nigerians |work=Next |author=Festus Owete |date=21 April 2011 |access-date=22 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095821/http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5691404-146/story.csp |archive-date=4 March 2016  }}</ref>

==== 2015 presidential election ====
{{Main|2015 Nigerian general election}}
[[File:Incoming and Outgoing Nigerian Presidents Wave to Crowd Amid Peaceful Inaugural in Abuja.jpg|thumb|Incoming and outgoing Nigerian Presidents at the [[Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari|inauguration]] ceremony]]
Buhari ran in the 2015 presidential election as a candidate of the [[All Progressives Congress]] party. His platform was built around his image as a staunch anti-corruption fighter and his incorruptible and honest reputation, but he said he would not probe past corrupt leaders and would give officials who stole in the past amnesty if they repented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/173941-buhari-will-not-probe-past-corrupt-nigerian-leaders-repent-apc.html|title=Buhari will not probe past corrupt Nigerian leaders if they repent – APC|date=29 December 2014|website=premiumtimesng.com|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119223627/http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/173941-buhari-will-not-probe-past-corrupt-nigerian-leaders-repent-apc.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the runup to the 2015 election, Jonathan's campaign asked that Buhari be disqualified from the election, claiming that he was in breach of the Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/174654-nigeria2015-jonathan-wants-buhari-disqualified.html|title = #Nigeria2015: Jonathan wants Buhari disqualified|date = 11 January 2015|website = premiumtimesng.com|access-date = 19 January 2015|archive-date = 18 January 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150118024219/http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/174654-nigeria2015-jonathan-wants-buhari-disqualified.html|url-status = live}}</ref> According to the fundamental document, in order to qualify for election to the office of the president, a person must be "educated up to at least School certificate level or its equivalent". Buhari failed to submit any such evidence, claiming that he lost the original copies of his diplomas when his house was raided following his overthrow from power in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/buhari-certificate-nuisance/|title = Buhari: Certificate nuisance!|date = 6 January 2015|website = vanguardngr.com|access-date = 19 January 2015|archive-date = 19 January 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150119191350/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/buhari-certificate-nuisance/|url-status = live}}</ref>

In May 2014, in the wake of the [[Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping]], Buhari strongly denounced the [[Boko Haram]] insurgency. He "urged Nigerians to put aside religion, politics and all other divisions to crush the insurgency he said is fanned by mindless bigots masquerading as Muslims".<ref>Ajasa, Femi. (8 May 2014) [http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/buhari-boko-haram-youre-bigots-masquerading-muslims/ BUHARI TO BOKO HARAM: You're bigots masquerading as Muslims – Vanguard News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509023342/http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/05/buhari-boko-haram-youre-bigots-masquerading-muslims/ |date=9 May 2014 }}. Vanguardngr.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref> In July 2014, Buhari escaped a bomb attack on his life by Boko Haram in Kaduna, 82 people were killed.<ref>Muhammed, Garba. (24 July 2014) [http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nigeria-violence-idUKKBN0FS19N20140723 Suicide bombs in Nigeria's Kaduna kill 82, ex-leader Buhari targeted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821173244/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nigeria-violence-idUKKBN0FS19N20140723 |date=21 August 2016 }} [[Reuters]]. Uk.reuters.com. Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref> In December 2014, Buhari pledged to enhance security in Nigeria if elected president.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-opposition-leader-vows-to-improve-security/2557090.html Nigeria Opposition Leader Vows to Improve Security] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216144310/http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-opposition-leader-vows-to-improve-security/2557090.html |date=16 December 2014 }}. Voanews.com (12 December 2014). Retrieved on 4 November 2016.</ref> After this announcement, Buhari's approval ratings skyrocketed, largely due to Jonathan's apparent inability to fight Boko Haram. Buhari made internal security and wiping out the militant group one of the key pillars of his campaign. In January 2015, the insurgent group "The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta" (MEND) endorsed Buhari.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.punchng.com/news/mend-replies-pdp-says-buhari-best-candidate/|title = MEND replies PDP, says Buhari best candidate|date = 9 January 2015|website = punchng.com|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150110195931/http://www.punchng.com/news/mend-replies-pdp-says-buhari-best-candidate/|archive-date = 10 January 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

In February 2015, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo quit the ruling PDP party and endorsed Buhari.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20150218-nigeria-ex-president-olusegun-obasanjo-lache-goodluck-jonathan-pdp-apc-boko-haram-presidentielle/|title = Nigeria: l'ex-président Olusegun Obasanjo lâche Goodluck Jonathan|date = 18 February 2015|access-date = 4 March 2015|publisher = RFI|archive-date = 10 March 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150310123841/http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20150218-nigeria-ex-president-olusegun-obasanjo-lache-goodluck-jonathan-pdp-apc-boko-haram-presidentielle/|url-status = live}}</ref>

On 31 March, Jonathan called Buhari to concede and congratulate him on his election as president.<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/11507102/Muhammadu-Buhari-claims-victory-in-Nigerias-presidential-elections.html|title=Muhammadu Buhari claims victory in Nigeria's presidential elections|work=The Telegraph|author=Colin Freeman|date=31 March 2015|access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=1 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401021040/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/11507102/Muhammadu-Buhari-claims-victory-in-Nigerias-presidential-elections.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Buhari was sworn in on 29 May 2015 in a [[Inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari|ceremony]] attended by at least 23 heads of state and government.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historic succession complete as Buhari is sworn in as the president of Nigeria {{!}} Nigeria {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/29/historic-succession-complete-buhari-sworn-in-nigerian-president |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=amp.theguardian.com}}</ref>