Presidential Polls: Anxiety as Tinubu, Obi beat Atiku in SW, SE, SS
…Kwankwaso wins Kano
…Atiku clears Osun, eyes Northern States
…Tinubu sweeps Ekiti, leads in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos
…Desist from inflammatory statements, INEC cannot be bullied — APC
…PDP hopeful of Atiku’s victory
…Results from polling units are safe — INEC
…Blames IReV challenges on technical hitches
Joel Oladele, Abuja; Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta; Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) keeps to its collation of results for the presidential election held on Saturday, results released so far reveal that the Presidential Candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu defeated other Presidential candidates in the six South West states of Lagos, Ogun,Oyo,Ondo and Ekiti. According to the results, the Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi emerged as winner in South Eastern states of Anambra.
Hence, the APC and PDP are anxious for the official release of results of votes coming from the North as the determining factor, as the results announced so far by the Commission, has tilted more on regional lines.
While the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, appears to be leading with a firm grip on the Southwest, the Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi is taking a good lead in the Southeast, while the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart, the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, are hopeful of the North.
Tinubu leads in Southwest
In Ekiti, Tinubu recorded massive votes as the official results from the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti as announced by the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) the APC won the State in a landslide.
Presenting the results at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja, the State Collation Officer for Presidential Election (SCOPE), Ekiti; Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Professor Akeem Lasisi said there are 987,647 total registered voters across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.
However, 315,058 were Accredited, a total of 314472 were cast, out of which 308,171 were valid while 6,301 were rejected.
He added that there were 1,786 of cancelled votes due to bypassing of BVAS and over voting at some units.
The results as presented show that while Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC scored 201,494, his closest rival, Peter Obi of Labour Party scored 11,397 votes while Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of PDP scored 89,554 votes.
Other parties and their score includes: Party A – 69, AA – 29, AAC – 108, ADC – 1337, ADP – 737, APGA – 268, APM – 46, APP – 91, BP – 46, NNPP – 264, SDP – 2011, YPP – 81 and ZLP – 460.
The Ekiti State results remain the first and the only one to be announced out of the 36 states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territorial (FCT).
In his remarks, the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said the Commission is still waiting for the results from other States.
He explained that the delay is due to logistical challenges which they are working towards to ensure a seamless process.
He therefore adjourned the collation till 11am on Monday while INEC resumes activities at the situation room.
The Collation Officer for Presidential Election (SCOPE) was accompanied by the INEC Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Ekiti State; Professor Ayodele Salami for the presentation.
Tinubu leading in Ogun, cleared all the 10 LG results announced by INEC
Meanwhile, there were indications that Tinubu might gradually be coasting home to victory in Ogun State, as at the time of filing this reprot, as he was leading candidates of other political parties from the results of the election of the Local Government Areas received so far.
Tinubu won all the 10 LAGs declared so far while Atiku is trailing behind him.
The LGAs results declared so far are: Remo North, Ikenne, Egbado South, Ewekoro and Abeokuta North.
Others are: Ijebu North, Ijebu North-East, Imeko Afon, Odeda and Ijebu-Ode Local government areas.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Niyi Ijalaye had earlier declared opened the Ogun State collation centre.
He also announced the Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale as the collation officer for the State.
The results are as follows:
- REMO NORTH LG
Registered voters: 48,886
Accredited Voters: 11,148
APC: 5,814
PDP: 3,627
LP: 984
NNPP: 22
ADC: 71
Total valid votes: 10,665
Rejected votes: 478
Total votes cast: 11,143
- IKENNE LG
Registered voters: 67,914
Accredited Voters: 20,126
APC: 9,431
ADC: 115
PDP: 6,616
LP: 2,678
NNPP: 39
SDP: 07
Total votes cast: 19,159
Rejected votes: 967
Total votes cast: 20,126
Four polling units cancelled due to violence, destruction of election materials such ballot boxes and papers and over voting.
- EGBADO SOUTH
Registered voters: 13,3001
Accredited Voters: 31,192
APC: 18,471
ADC: 342
PDP: 5,012
LP: 3,126
NNPP: 117
Total valid votes: 29,518
Rejected votes: 1,672
Total votes cast: 31,190
- EWEKORO LG
Registered voters: 17,521
Accredited Voters: 18,411
APC: 9,778
ADC: 1,247
PDP: 3,646
LP: 2,287
NNPP: 79
Total valid votes: 17,521
Rejected votes: 876
Total votes cast: 18,397
- ABK NORTH
Registered voters: 167,753
Accredited Voters: 33,027
APC: 20,094
ADC: 1,285
PDP: 5,057
LP: 4,092
NNPP: 104
Total valid votes: 31,275
Rejected votes:
Total votes cast:
- IJEBU NORTH
Registered voters: 133,122
Accredited Voters: 34,035
APC: 21,844
ADC: 300
PDP: 7,233
LP: 2,372
NNPP: 50
Total valid votes:
Rejected votes:
Total votes cast:
- IJEBU NORTH-EAST
Registered voters: 52,457
Accredited Voters: 13,206
APC: 7,430
ADC: 135
PDP: 2,85
LP: 1,779
NNPP: 19
Total valid votes: 12,522
Rejected votes: 683
Total votes cast: 13,205
- IMEKO AFON LG
Registered voters: 70,223
Accredited Voters: 18,411
APC: 12,146
ADC: 143
PDP: 4,560
LP: 568
NNPP: 32
Total valid votes: 17,639
Rejected votes: 762
Total votes cast: 18,411
- ODEDA LG
Registered voters: 94,048
Accredited Voters: 22,068
APC: 12,945
ADC: 425
PDP: 3,855
LP: 3,064
NNPP: 73
Total valid votes: 20,917
Rejected votes: 1,123
Total votes cast: 22,040
- IJEBU-ODE
Registered voters: 90,760
Accredited Voters: 25,028
APC: 16,072
ADC: 188
PDP: 4,057
LP: 3,162
NNPP: 56
Total valid votes: 24,058
Rejected votes: 882
Total votes cast: 24,940
One cancellation due to over voting
Tinubu leading in 24 LGAs in Oyo
Meanwhile, in Oyo State as at the time of filing this report Tinubu was leading in 24 LGAs out of the 33 LGAs in the State.
His closest rival, Atiku – PDP, has not won any LGA in the announcement made so far as at the time this report was filed.
APC loses to PDP in Osun, as Atiku polls 354,366
However, Atiku Abubakar, has been declared winner of the presidential election in Osun State.
The PDP candidate polled 354,366 to defeat APC candidate, Tinubu who scored 343,945.
The results announced by the State Coalition Officer, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos said the total cast votes stood at 756,744, while the total valid vote is 733,203, as rejected vote stood at 23,541.
While giving the total results for presidential elections, the PDP candidate won in 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State, while the APC candidates won the remaining 10 LGAs.
LGAs won by PDP include; Boluwaduro, Ifedayo, Ilesa West, Atakumosa West, Ife North, Ila, Irepodun, Oriade, Obokun, Olaoluwa, Orolu, Atakumosa East, Ede South, Odo-otin, Egbedore, Ife South, Ilesa East and Ede North.
However, the LGAs cleared by APC include: Ife East, Osogbo, Boripe, Ife Central, Olorunda, Ayedade, Irewo, Isokan, Ejigbo and Iwo.
In Rivers State, the results for Presidential results, revealed thus (1) Ahoada West: LP -4634; APC-3443; PDP-2582 – Total registered voters: 84,070; Accredited voters: 11,06206; Total votes cast: 11,505; Void votes: 443.
Tai LGA: APC-9,442; PDP-1,506; LP-483; Total registered voters:74,106; Accredited voters:12,291; Total votes cast: 11,725; Void votes:566
Opobo/Nkoro: APC-5,701; PDP-1,542; LP-293; Total registered voters:59,047; Accredited voters:10,094; Total votes cast: 9,449; Void votes:614
Obi leads in Southeast
Meanwhile, Obi is taking a lead in Southeast.
He won in Ethiope West, the LGA of PDP National Leader in Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, after polling 10,199 votes.
Mrs. Josephine Crossdale who collated the result in the area, said the Presidential candidate of PDP and closed friend of erstwhile Governor Ibori, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, scored 5,463 votes to clinch second position and Tinubu of the APC, secured 3,850 votes to come third.
Obi has won three out of the four LGAs so far announced by the INEC in Delta State.
Meanwhile, the running mate of the PDP Presidential Candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa won his LGA, Ika North-East for his party but lost the Ika Federal Constituency to Obi of the Labour Party.
According to the results collated by the Electoral Officer, Mr James Olisa, Okowa won in Ika North-East after polling 16, 696 to beat his closest rival, Obi, who scored 8,980 votes and Tinubu of APC, 1,902 votes.
Obi however, took a good lead in Ika South, where he scored 17,868 votes to beat Okowa who secured 7,485 votes for the PDP, while Tinubu came third with 3,290 votes.
In Aniocha North, Obi won with 11,678 votes making it impossible for the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Ndudi Elumelu to deliver his party’s Presidential Candidate, Atiku.
PDP scored 3,783 to come second, while APC polled 1,146 to come third. The result was announced by the Local Government Electoral Officer, Mr. Emeke Onyemes.
Obi took unprecedented lead in Oshimili North, LGA of the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah and Senator Peter Nwaoboshi of the APC, he polled 14,929.
According to the result, which was collated by Mr. Okonta Emmanuel, PDP scored 4,796 and APC, 1,688 to come second and third, respectively.
Meanwhile, the state Collation Officer for the presidential election, Prof. Owuneri Abraham Georgewill, has adjourned for break.
Clears 7 LGAs in Abia
As at the time of filing this report, Obi had cleared the results of seven LGAs in Abia State announced Sunday in Umuahia, the State capital.
Obi cleared two LGAs – Isiala Ngwa North, and Isuikwuato LGAs earlier announced by INEC.
Below are the performances of the major political parties in the LGAs:
IKWUANO LGA:
LP – 14,997.
PDP -1,065
APC -407
APGA – 79
UKWA WEST:
LP – 9,557.
PDP – 915
APC – 07
APGA – 467
UKWA EAST:
LP – 5, 819
PDP – 53
APC – 264
APGA – 259
BENDE:
LP – 18,446
PDP – 973
APC – 1, 545
APGA – 101
UMUAHIA SOUTH:
LP – 25,017
PDP – 1, 156
APC – 23
APGA – 188
Isiala Ngwa North Obi polled 24,336; and Isuikwuato, where he scored 16,038 votes.
Atiku of PDP came a distant second in Isiala Ngwa North with 5,964 votes; and 607 respectively.
Tinubu got 742 in Isiala Ngwa North, and 472 in Isuikwuato.
Obi stuns Lagosians over win of Ikeja LGA
Meanwhile, Obi defeated Tinubu, in Ikeja Local Government Area where the latter’s polling unit lies.
The result below:
Ikeja LGA
APC 21,276
LP 30,004
NNPP 337
PDP 2,280
Meanwhile, Tinubu won the presidential election in the Lagos Island Local Government Area of Lagos State – he scored a total of 27,760 votes from 19 wards to emerge the winner of the election in the LGAs.
While Obi came second with 3,058 votes, Atiku followed with 2,521.
The results show that only 34,989 voters were accredited of the total 200,048 registered voters in Lagos Island. It noted that they recorded 1,052 rejected votes out of the total of 33,886 valid votes.
Other LGAs announced include — Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Epe, and Ibeju-Lekki, where Tinubu outperformed Obi.
Edo
Meanwhile as at the time of filing this report, Obi has won in five LGAs in Edo state.
The Edo State Collation Officer, Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, Prof. Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, has released the results of the presidential election in five LGAs in the State.
The five LGAs where results were released are Igueben, Esan Central, Esan North East, Egor, Esan South East.
According to the results, Labour Party (LP) garnered 86,285 votes followed by the APC with 18,219 votes while PDP, came third with 15040 votes.
PDP hopeful of Atiku’s victory – PDP
Meanwhile in hopeful turns, the PDP has expressed confidence that its candidate, Atiku, is coasting to victory in the Presidential elections held on Saturday.
The main opposition party hinging its confidence in the preliminary reports from the field and results so far announced, said it is evident that Atiku is securing the highest number of valid votes cast as well as the statutory 25 percent in at least two third of the States of the Federation to ultimately brace the tape on the first ballot.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, on Sunday.
He said, “Our Party appreciates Nigerians from across the country for putting their avowed solidarity and support for Atiku Abubakar into action by coming out enmasse to give their votes to the PDP, irrespective of ethnicity, creed, age and even political affiliations.
“From preliminary results, it is clear that Atiku Abubakar’s message of hope, unity, security and rebuilding of our nation has been positively received by Nigerians who are eager to embrace a new era under a purposeful leadership which the PDP and Atiku Abubakar embody.
“The PDP assures Nigerians that the hope which Atiku Abubakar symbolises as well as the very onerous task of unifying and returning our country to the path of stability, national cohesion and economic prosperity will soon begin.
“Our Party therefore calls on INEC to ensure very transparent and credible collation process in such a manner that guarantees that all votes count and that the Will of the people is respected.
“INEC should not only ensure prompt uploading of results but also continue to make the result viewing portal available to the public in the interest of transparency.
“The PDP congratulates Nigerians for peaceful elections despite the threats, resort to violence and desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to scuttle the process, while urging them to remain calm and resilient until the final declaration of results.”
Kwankwaso leads in Kano
Meanwhile, the Presidential Candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, as at the time of filing this report, is ahead of Atiku and Tinubu with over 43,000 votes in seven LGAs of Kano State that have so far been declared at the State collation centre of the INEC.
With 69,997, Tinubu, is following Kwankwaso with 69,997 votes, while Atiku has garnered 15,896 votes.
The breakdown states below:
Garun Malam LGA, Kano state
Total: 74,846
NNPP – 12,249
PDP – 4,409
Rimin Gado
Total registered voters: 67,128
Accredited voters: 27,476
APC – 10,861
LP – 76
NNPP – 14,634
PDP – 907
Kibiya
Total registered voters: 77,929
Accredited voters: 28,228
APC – 10,283
LP – 70
NNPP – 16,331
PDP – 753
Kura
Total registered voters: 107,866l
Accredited voters: 37,613
APC – 10,929
LP – 126
NNPP – 20,406
PDP – 3,987
Gezawa
Total registered voters: 114,655
Accredited voters: 37,183
APC – 9,915
LP – 188
NNPP – 21,909
PDP – 2,908
Minjibir
Total registered voters: 94,186
Accredited voters: 26,245
APC – 6,777
LP – 123
NNPP – 15,505
PDP – 1,833
Makoda
Total registered voters: 75,487
Accredited voters: 27,724
APC – 12,590
LP – 40
NNPP – 12,247
PDP – 1,099
Results from polling units are safe — INEC
…blames IReV challenges on technical hitches
Meanwhile, INEC has allayed fears of Nigerians over glitches in its processes, assuring that results from Polling Units are safe, on both the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The Commission gave the assurance in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, in Abuja on Sunday.
Okoye said the Commission was aware of challenges with the IReV and its technical team were working assiduously to solve all outstanding challenges with the portal.
“Unlike in off-season elections where the portal was used, it has been relatively slow and unsteady.
“The commission regrets this setback, especially because of the importance of IReV in our results management process.
“The problem is totally due to technical hitches related to scaling up the IReV from a platform for managing off-season, state elections, to one for managing nationwide general elections.
“It is indeed not unusual for glitches to occur and be corrected in such situations,” he said.
Okoye assured Nigerians that the challenges were not due to any intrusion or sabotage of INEC systems, and that the IReV remained well-secured.
“Our technical team is working assiduously to solve all the outstanding problems, and users of the IReV would have noticed improvements since last night.
“We also wish to assure Nigerians that results from the Polling Units, copies of which were issued to political parties, are safe on both the BVAS and the IReV portal.
“These results cannot be tampered with and any discrepancy between them and the physical results used in collation will be thoroughly investigated and remediated, in line with Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.”
Okoye said that Nigeria fully appreciated the concerns of the public on the situation and welcomed various suggestions that it had received from concerned Nigerians.
He said while that was being appreciated, it was important to avoid statements and actions that could heat up the polity at this time or promote disaffection toward the commission.
“We take full responsibility for the problems and regret the distress that they have caused the candidates, political parties and the electorate,” Okoye said.
Desist from inflammatory statements, INEC cannot be bullied – APC
Meanwhile, as Nigerians await the results of the 2023 presidential election, the APC has warned opposition parties to desist from heating up the polity through some incitive comments faulting the ongoing electoral process across the Country.
The APC said this in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyam, SAN on Sunday.
Keyamo reminded the opposition parties of the Peace Accord signed twice by all Political parties and urged them to abide by such by placing the national interest above personal ambitions.
He asked them not to distract INEC from carrying out its constitutional duties while calling on the International Observers and friends of Nigeria to remain focused on the process as it unfolds.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to some incendiary comments by spokespersons of the opposition parties, notably the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) regarding the yet-to-be-announced results of the elections that were held yesterday.
“Some of them have threatened fire and brimstone if their own version of some concocted results are not announced in a bid to be the judge, jury and executioner in this election.
“Similarly, to rile up their supporters against the country, they play up some isolated incidents of violence in our strongholds, whereas we have tons of videos of massive electoral malpractices like violence against non-LP supporters, forcing and guiding women and children to thumb-print ballot papers for LP and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers by both PDP and LP supporters in some parts of the country.
“In addition, in one breath one of the spokespersons of the PDP complained about a certain headline in a newspaper about early results, yet in condemning the newspaper, he also makes unfounded claims about the yet-to-be released results.
“On our part, we have decided to be calm to await the official announcement of the results and to pursue any grievance (if any) in a lawful manner. But we shall not sit back and allow such unguided comments to gain grounds in order to foist a particular narrative on our citizens and the international community.
“Recall that all parties signed the Peace Accord twice before the eyes of the world. Now is the time to abide by the terms of that accord and show love for country over and above personal ambitions.
“We have all campaigned hard and strong. The Nigerian people have listened to all of us and made their decisions. Now is the time to hear the voices of Nigerians as the results are released and not our own voices.
“The body officially designated to reflect the voices of Nigerians is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). No Party can bully them by threats to do its own bidding. Neither will the APC be cowed into silence by this disgusting antics of the opposition parties.
“We call on the International Observers and friends of Nigeria not to be distracted, but to focus on the process as it unfolds.”
