Jonathan leads in the Nigerian presidential race with double-digits in two comprehensive national polls

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2. Guardian News - Houston, TX -   Less than three weeks to the Nigeria’s general election, President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is taking a surprise double digit lead in two separate polls over his 
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6. major challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari  (Rtd) of the All Progressive Congress. In a Guardian News/ American Journal of Transformational Leadership (AJTL)  poll released few hours ago, Jonathan swaggers a 36% lead in first poll processed through lived interviews, and a whopping 39% lead in a second poll processed through an electronic survey process.  Both surveys were processed with closed-ended question asking respondents who they would choose between the two candidates if elections were held at the time.
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8.  The first poll was conducted by cell phone interviews among 1200 adults with 200 samples drawn from each of the six Nigerian geopolitical zones, namely, North-Central, North-Eastern, North-Western, South-Eastern, South-South, and South-Western regions between January 14 and January 20. Jonathan polled 63% ahead of  Buhari’s 27% percentage points, with 10% yet to decide on either candidate. All respondents identified themselves as eligible voter while age and zones of residence were verified through individual social network accounts. The overall survey has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, though the margin of partial samples would be higher.
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10.  The second poll conducted between January 24 and 26 was specifically designed with images, names and party affiliation of the two major candidates, President Jonathan, and General BUhari (Rtd), to enable research participants to expediently check their choices of their next leader. Jonathan topped Buhari with 39%, polling 67%  over Buhari’s 28%, with 5% yet to decide. The poll has a margin of error of five percentage points.
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12.  The Guardian News/ AJTL poll is the first comprehensive poll conducted on the Nigerian election based on the diversity of population samples and methodology. AJTL recommended such triangulated process to create validity and explain with clarity, the fruitfulness and density of individual attitude to social phenomenon. While the study was not aimed at establishing a demographic breakdown of findings, Peter Morgan, a student research intern who took part in the sample-collection process explained that most undecided voters were mainly from the North-Central, North-Eastern, and North-Western geopolitical zones who were uncomfortable to disclose their choices for undisclosed reasons. Further analysis, including a survey revealing the approval rating of the incumbent, President Jonathan are being processed and will be published accordingly.