At stake in this election:

• 109 seats in the Senate

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Olusegun OBASANJO
• Head of Government: President Olusegun OBASANJO
• Assembly: Nigeria has a bicameral National Assembly consisting of the Senate with 109 seats and the House of Representatives with 360 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Senate 109 members are elected by popular vote*. In the House of Representatives 360 members are elected by popular vote.

* 3 members are elected from each state plus one from Abuja.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: People's Democratic Party
  • Presidential Candidate: Olesegun OBASANJO
  • Seats won in last election: 59
• Party: All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP)
  • Presidential Candidate: Muhammadu BUHARI
  • Seats won in last election: 29
• Party: Alliance for Democracy
  • Seats won in last election: 20
• Party: United Nigeria People's Party
  • Presidential Candidate: Jim NWOBODO
  • Seats won in last election: N/A
• Party: National Democratic Party
  • Presidential Candidate: Ike NWACHUKWU
  • Seats won in last election: N/A
• Party: All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
  • Presidential Candidate: Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OJUKWU
  • Seats won in last election: N/A

Last parliamentary election:

• The last parliamentary election was held on February 20, 1999.

Population and registered voters:

• Population: 132,581,484 (2003)
• Registered Voters: 60,823,022 (2003)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 65,373,969 (2003)

·         Is Nigeria a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (23 April 1984)

·         Has Nigeria ratified CEDAW: Yes (13 June 1985)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 22 (House of Representatives); 3 (Senate) following the 2003 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 152 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very High (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Nigeria a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Nigeria ratified CRPD: Yes (24 September 2010)

·         Population with a disability: 19,887,222 (est.)