APC’s Performance in the 2019 General Elections

Last checked: 14 October 2026. This article reviews APC performance in the 2019 general elections using published results. It is civic education, not an endorsement of any party.

APC performance in the 2019 general elections tested whether the party that won in 2015 could keep winning as an incumbent. The answer was yes at the presidential level, though with a smaller turnout and some notable setbacks. This guide covers the results, the controversies and what the election showed about the party.

The postponement

The presidential and National Assembly elections were due on 16 February 2019. At about 3 a.m. that day, INEC announced a one-week postponement, citing logistical problems in getting materials to polling stations. Voting went ahead on 23 February. Many voters had already travelled, and the delay drew criticism from both the APC and the opposition, as well as from observers.

The presidential result

• Muhammadu Buhari (APC): 15,191,847 votes, or 55.60%, and 19 states.
• Atiku Abubakar (PDP): 11,262,978 votes, or 41.22%, and 17 states plus the FCT.
• Margin: 3,928,869 votes.
• Registered voters: 82,344,107.
• Turnout: 34.75%.

Buhari’s winning margin was larger than in 2015, but total participation fell. His raw vote total was about 233,000 lower than in 2015, which suggests the higher percentage came from fewer votes cast overall rather than a surge of new supporters.

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The National Assembly

The APC won 63 of 109 Senate seats and 202 of 360 House seats, keeping control of both chambers. Its Senate numbers rose slightly from 2015, while its House seats fell by about ten. The PDP held 45 Senate seats and 128 House seats. Smaller parties won a handful of seats.

The governorship elections

Governorship elections were held on 2 March 2019 in most states, with the Rivers State poll held on 3 April after an earlier suspension. Some contests were close or went to supplementary rounds. The APC and the PDP each won a large share of the contests, and a few states changed hands. We did not verify the full governorship tally for this article, so readers who need exact numbers should check INEC’s published results.

Primaries disputes that cost the APC seats

The 2019 cycle showed how internal party disputes can affect results. In Zamfara State, a dispute over whether the APC had properly held its primaries led the Supreme Court to rule in May 2019 that the party had not validly fielded candidates there. The seats in question were awarded to the candidates who came second. In Rivers State, a long-running dispute left the APC unable to field candidates in the 2019 polls. These cases are often cited as lessons about following the correct primary procedure.

The legal challenge

Atiku Abubakar filed a petition alleging widespread irregularities and challenging Buhari’s qualifications. The court dismissed the petition, saying the claims were not proven. The APC and supporters said this confirmed the result, while the PDP maintained its objections to the process. Observers noted concerns including vote-buying, violence in some areas and low turnout.

What the 2019 election showed about the APC

• Incumbency helped: the party held power at the centre and in many states, which supported its campaign.
• The base held: the north-west and north-east remained strongly APC.
• Participation dropped: fewer people voted, which analysts linked to voter fatigue, security concerns and the delay.
• Internal discipline mattered: procedural failures in primaries cost seats.

How 2019 compares with 2015

In 2015 the APC won as a challenger with a message of change and the highest turnout of the three elections. In 2019 it won as an incumbent with a bigger margin but fewer voters. Its Senate seats rose by three, while House seats fell. The two results together show a party that kept its core while facing the common pressures of governing.

Lessons for later elections

Several lessons from 2019 carried forward. Parties learned that following their own primary procedures to the letter is essential, because courts will enforce it. Election managers learned that late changes to the calendar damage public confidence. And campaigners saw that a winning percentage can hide falling participation. When the 2023 election arrived, turnout fell further, which made voter mobilisation a central issue. Anyone studying the APC’s record should therefore look at turnout, seats and legal outcomes together, not just the headline presidential percentage.

What we could not confirm

• The complete 2019 governorship results, which we did not verify.
• Whether the postponement changed the final outcome, which no source we checked could establish.

Frequently asked questions

Who did Buhari defeat in 2019? Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

Why was the election postponed? INEC cited logistical problems with election materials.

Did the APC control the National Assembly? Yes, with 63 Senate seats and 202 House seats.

Key takeaways

The APC won the 2019 presidency with 55.60% and kept both legislative chambers. Turnout fell, the election was delayed by a week, and primary disputes in places like Zamfara showed that party procedure has real legal consequences.

Sources checked

• Wikipedia, 2019 Nigerian general election (compiling INEC figures)
• Wikipedia, 2015 Nigerian general election, for comparison
• Reports of the Supreme Court’s May 2019 ruling on APC candidates in Zamfara