Perception of Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria and the 2015 Presidential Election

Abstract

The Boko Haram terror sect has become an important matter in the annals of Nigerian history. Its existence, philosophy and activities have played a significant role in how Nigeria’s citizens score the performance of the government – at least in the area of security, which is an important aspect. We argue in this article that the perception of the average Nigerian (particularly those in the highly populated Northern, Muslim dominated region) of the role of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led government in tackling Boko Haram, influenced the 2015 presidential election, which saw the incumbent losing to the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). Some perceive it as a war of Christians against Muslims, while others see it as a sponsored conspiracy against the Muslim North.