President Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President until President Yar'Adua's death in May 2010 sought a mandate in his own right triggering a debate about the zoning of the country's highest office. 

This election also offered a flash of the changes in Nigeria's political system as the prominent opposition was now formed by two newly formed parties: Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). 

The elections would also produce a wave of violence which threatened to impact the progress of Nigeria's democracy.