Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, has been declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, received 8,794,726 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by 1.8 million votes. The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at the International Collation Centre in Abuja during the early hours of Wednesday.
Tinubu’s victory comes after a highly contested election that saw several candidates vying for the presidency, including Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party. The three leading presidential candidates won in 12 states each while Kwankwaso claimed only Kano State.
Tinubu’s victory is significant as it marks the first time that he has contested for the presidency. He left office as a two-term governor of Lagos State in 2007 and is credited with leading the coalition that ousted the PDP from power in 2015. Tinubu has also extended his influence beyond the South-West region in recent years.
Aside from Tinubu, other candidates that gunned for the nation’s top job include Dumebi Kachikwu of the African Democratic Congress, Kola Abiola of the People’s Redemption Party, Omoyele Sowore of the Africa Action Congress, Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party, Malik Ado-Ibrahim of the Young Progressive Party, Prof Christopher Imumulen of the Accord Party, Prof Peter Umeadi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and Yusuf Mamman Dan Talle of the Allied Peoples Movement. The list also includes Hamza Al-Mustapha of the Action Alliance, Sani Yusuf of the Action Democratic Party, Nnnadi Osita of the Action Peoples Party, Oluwafemi Adenuga of the Boot Party, Osakwe Felix Johnson of the National Rescue Movement, and Nwanyanwu Daniel Daberechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party.
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Tinubu’s victory was helped by his performance in several states, including Borno, where he polled 252,282 votes across the 27 local government areas and was declared the winner by the state Collation Officer, Prof. Jude Rabo. Atiku and Obi could only garner 190,921 votes and 7,205, respectively, while Kwankwaso amassed 4,626 votes.
In Rivers State, Tinubu raked in 231,591 votes from 23 LGAs while the LP scored 175, 071 votes and the PDP polled 88, 468 votes. The Federal Capital Territory, however, proved to be a game-changer for the Labour Party, which floored both Tinubu and his PDP counterpart. Obi’s popularity in Abuja fetched him 281,717 votes while the former Lagos governor and the former VP shared the remaining slots of 90,902 votes and 74,149 respectively. Kwankwaso also polled 4,517 votes.
Tinubu made up for his losses in some northern and middle belt states which included Zamfara, Kwara, Kogi, Benue, and Kogi States. In Benue, the APC amassed 310,468 votes to relegate LP (308,372), PDP (130,081), and NNPP (4,740) to second, third, and fourth places.
In Zamfara State, he polled 298,396 votes, which was significantly more than the votes obtained by other candidates. The LP candidate received only 1,660 votes, while the NNPP candidate garnered 4,044 votes, and the PDP candidate secured 193,978 votes.
The announcement of Bola Tinubu as the president-elect of Nigeria has sparked mixed reactions across the country. Supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have taken to the streets to celebrate the victory, while supporters of the opposition parties have expressed their disappointment and disbelief.
Many Nigerians are still coming to terms with the outcome of the election, with some questioning the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the fairness of the electoral process.
The PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has rejected the outcome of the election and vowed to challenge the results in court. He has accused the APC of rigging the election and manipulating the electoral process to their advantage.
Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu has called for unity and urged Nigerians to put aside their political differences and work together for the good of the country.
In his acceptance speech, Tinubu thanked Nigerians for their support and promised to deliver on his campaign promises. He pledged to tackle the country’s security challenges, revive the economy, and create jobs for the unemployed.
Tinubu also extended an olive branch to his opponents, calling for unity and cooperation among all Nigerians. He promised to be a president for all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations or ethnic backgrounds.
The 2023 presidential election has been one of the most hotly contested in Nigeria’s history, with a record number of candidates vying for the top job. The election has been marred by allegations of vote rigging, intimidation, and violence, with several people losing their lives in election-related violence.
The election has also highlighted the deep-seated political and ethnic divisions in the country, with many Nigerians expressing concerns about the country’s future and the ability of its leaders to tackle the numerous challenges facing the nation.
In conclusion, the announcement of Bola Tinubu as the president-elect of Nigeria has marked the end of a long and contentious election process. While his victory has been celebrated by his supporters, many Nigerians remain skeptical about the outcome of the election and the future of the country. Only time will tell whether Tinubu can deliver on his promises and unite the country.
Source: PunchNG