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Smooth transition in Nigerian election
01:01 - Source: CNN

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Story highlights

Muhammadu Buhari's win marks the first democratic transition of power from a ruling party to the opposition

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is grappling with violent Boko Haram extremists

CNN  — 

The last time Muhammadu Buhari came to power in Nigeria, it was by force. This time it was by the ballot box.

Here are five reasons why one of the most fiercely-contested elections in the country’s history is so important.

It was a first in Nigerian history

For the first time in Nigeria’s history, the opposition defeated the ruling party in democratic elections. Buhari defeated incumbent Goodluck Jonathan by about two million votes.

Nigeria is significant because it is the biggest economy and most populous country in Africa; it is also one of Africa’s largest oil producers and is a major supplier of crude oil to the United States.

A leader again

aman Muhammadu Buhari
Who is Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari?
01:33 - Source: CNN

This isn’t Buhari’s first time leading Nigeria – but it’s his first time in nearly 30 years. The reformed dictator is a Sunni Muslim from Nigeria’s poorer North, while Jonathan comes from a Christian and animist South that is rich with oil.

Despite years of democracy, analysts say, corruption has hindered Nigeria from building a stable economy.

Buhari, who was campaigning for the fourth time, capitalized on these weaknesses and some analysts believe that his military background was an advantage for him.

Nigerians wanted a strong leader who could keep them safe from Boko Haram’s murderous raids – and Buhari also campaigned as a born-again democrat to allay fears about his strict military regime the last time around.

He stressed that Nigeria’s security needs to be the next government’s focus. His campaign was also fiercely anti-corruption – he ran under the slogan of “new broom,” and his supporters were often pictured holding brooms in the lead-up to the vote.

Facing extremists

Caption:Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan (L) and APC main opposition party's presidential candidate Mohammadu Buhari (R) smile after signing the renewal of the pledges for peaceful elections on March 26, 2015 in Abuja. Security is a major concern at Saturday's vote both from Boko Haram violence against voters and polling stations to clashes between rival supporters. In 2011, around 1,000 people were killed in violence after Jonathan beat Buhari to the presidency. AFP PHOTO / PHILIP OJISUA (Photo credit should read PHILIP OJISUA/AFP/Getty Images)
Expert: There is a 'thirst for change' in Nigeria
02:00 - Source: CNN

The elections were largely predicted to be violent and everyone, Nigerians included, expected the worst. Some families moved abroad and there was sporadic violence across the country in the lead up to the election. But those fears turned out to be mostly unfounded, and the elections held relatively peacefully – with the exception of attacks in the north of the country, where around 11 people died.

Many also praised President Jonathan’s gracious and quick concession of defeat as it almost certainly prevented post-election violence.

President-elect Buhari said Wednesday in a speech to the nation: “The eyes of the world were focused on us to see if we can vote in a peaceful way and carry out elections in an orderly manner.

“We have proven to the world that we are a people who have embraced democracy and a people who seek a government by, for and for the people.”

Big economy, little income

Nigeria women vote

On election day, Nigerians queued for hours in hot weather to cast their vote. Some of the biometric reader machines malfunctioned – including the one at President Jonathan’s polling station – and voting had to be extended into the following day.

But the technical issues didn’t keep people from voting – and in Lagos, some voters cast their ballots with the aid of the light from their mobile phones. And even though some card readers didn’t work in some places, many say they helped to cut down on vote rigging.

Buhari has a lot on his plate

A screengrab taken on May 12, 2014, from a video of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram obtained by AFP shows girls, wearing the full-length hijab and praying in an undisclosed rural location. Boko Haram released a new video on claiming to show the missing Nigerian schoolgirls, alleging they had converted to Islam and would not be released until all militant prisoners were freed.  A total of 276 girls were abducted on April 14 from the northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state, which has a sizeable Christian community. Some 223 are still missing. AFP PHOTO / BOKO HARAM 
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / BOKO HARAM" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSHO/AFP/Getty Images
Boko Haram: What you need to know
01:57 - Source: CNN

Boko Haram isn’t the only obstacle facing the new president. The economy, crime and generating enough power to light up the country are other major issues. The pressure will soon be on Buhari to deliver and there will be no excuses. If he fails, Nigerians will be waiting for him at the polls just four short years from now.