Muhammadu Buhari is a native of Daura in Katsina State, Buhari is of the Fulani ethnic background. He is the twenty-third child of his father, Adamu.
He was born on December 17, 1942, raised by his mother, Zulaihat when his father died when he was about four years old.

Muhammadu Buhari married his first wife, Safinatu in 1971. They had five children (four girls and one boy) together before they divorced in 1988. In December 1989, Buhari married his second and current wife Aisha (née Halilu) Buhari. They also have five children together, a boy and four girls. They are Aisha, Halima, Yusuf, Zarah and Amina.

Buhari’s divorced wife, Safinatu Buhari died from complications of diabetes on January 14, 2006.
The retired Major General in the Nigerian Army was the Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état.
Buhari has contested unsuccessfully for the office of President in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. However, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in December 2014 for the 2015 elections.
Buhari defeated Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 Presidential Elections to become the 15th Head of State of Nigeria.