Politics

Nigeria election 2023: Millions vote in tightest-ever poll

Published

3 years ago

February 25, 2023

Since 1999, Africa’s most populous country has been dominated by two parties – the ruling APC and the PDP.

But this time, there is also a strong challenge from a third-party candidate – the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who is backed by many young people.

Current President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping aside after serving two four-year terms.

His All Progressives Congress (APC) is represented by former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, while former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is standing for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). There are a total of 18 presidential candidates.

The lead-up to the polls has been overshadowed by a cash shortage caused by a botched attempt to redesign the currency, leading to widespread chaos at banks and cash machines as desperate people sought access to their money.

The new notes were introduced in order to tackle inflation, and also vote-buying. On the eve of the election a member of the House of Representatives was arrested with almost $500,000 (£419,000) in cash, and a list of people he was supposed to give it to, police say.

Whoever wins will have to deal with the currency redesign, a crumbling economy, high youth unemployment, and widespread insecurity which saw 10,000 killed last year.

After the killing of a senatorial candidate on Wednesday by suspected gunmen from the separatist group, Ipob, the parliamentary election was postponed in the south-eastern Enugu East constituency.

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The election has seen a huge interest from first-time voters and young people – a third of the 87 million eligible voters are below 35 – which may lead to a high voter turn-out than the 35% recorded in 2019.

“It is my responsibility and I have seen how important it is to vote,” 19-year-old first-time-voter Blessing Ememumodak told the BBC in Lagos.

Mr Obi, 61, is hoping to break up Nigeria’s two-party system after joining the Labour Party last May.

Although he was in the PDP before then, he is seen as a relatively fresh face and enjoys fervent support among some sections of Nigeria’s youth, especially in the south.

The wealthy businessman served as governor of the south-eastern Anambra State from 2006 to 2014. His backers, known as the “OBIdients” say he is the only candidate with integrity, but his critics argue that a vote for Obi is wasted as he is unlikely to win.

Instead, the PDP, which ruled until 2015, wants Nigerians to vote for Atiku Abubakar, 76 – the only major candidate from the country’s mainly Muslim north.

He has run for the presidency five times before – all of which he has lost. He has been dogged by accusations of corruption and cronyism, which he denies.

Most of his career has been spent in the corridors of power, having worked as a top civil servant, vice-president and a prominent businessman.

Most people consider the election a referendum on the APC, which has overseen a period of economic hardship and worsening insecurity.

Its candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 70, is credited with building Nigeria’s commercial hub Lagos, during his two terms as governor until 2007.

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He is known as a political godfather in the south-west region, where he wields huge influence, but like Mr Abubakar, has also been dogged by allegations of corruption over the years and poor health, both of which he denies.

Voting is expected to begin at 08:30 local time (07:30 GMT), though anyone in the queue before it ends at 14:30 will be allowed to vote.

Elections are also being held for 109 federal senators and 360 members of the house of representatives, with that for governors holding in March.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has promised free and fair elections, and has dismissed talk of postponement amid fears of insecurity in parts of the country and the cash shortage that many feared might affect its preparations.

It is the first time Inec will conduct national elections using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a facial and fingerprints technology that is thought to improve transparency by making it harder for politicians to rig the process.

Final results have been announced on the third day after voting in the last two elections, but they may come in earlier this time because of BVAS, which also uploads vote results directly to the Inec website direct from polling stations.

A candidate needs to have the most votes and 25% of ballots cast in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to be declared the winner

If no-one achieves that, there will be a run-off within 21 days – a first in Nigeria’s history.

BBC

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Politics

Osun poll: APC big guns storm Osogbo as police warn against inflammatory rhetoric

Published

4 hours ago

August 13, 2026

Trends Admin

Osun poll: APC big guns storm Osogbo as police warn against inflammatory rhetoric

OSOGBO: Tension and political activity intensified in Osun State on Wednesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Prof Nentawe Yilwatda and more than 10 governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) converged on Osogbo for the party’s mega rally, even as the police issued a stern warning against inflammatory comments capable of triggering violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The high-powered APC mobilisation also attracted the attention of Nigerian Afrobeats star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, who reacted to the arrival of the party’s heavyweights in the state capital.

Akpabio, Yilwatda and the APC governors were among prominent party leaders who stormed Osogbo to rally support for the party ahead of the keenly contested election.

Their arrival came against the backdrop of heightened political activities and growing concerns over possible tension in the final hours of the campaign.

The concerns prompted the Osun State Police Commissioner for Election, CP Samuel Etaifo, to warn politicians, candidates and their supporters against statements or actions capable of inflaming the political atmosphere.

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Etaifo’s warning followed an invitation extended to the Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, over alleged inciteful comments against members of the Accord Party in Ilesa on Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the police commissioner urged political leaders and public office holders to exercise restraint at what he described as a critical period of the electoral process.

“At this critical period of the electoral process, political leaders and public office holders are expected to exercise restraint, promote peace, and refrain from making comments capable of heightening tension or undermining public confidence in the electoral and security arrangements put in place for the forthcoming election,” Etaifo said.

He warned that the police would not tolerate any act, utterance or conduct capable of inciting violence, disrupting public peace or threatening the security of the state.

According to him, the invitation extended to Fadahunsi was intended to obtain clarification on the alleged statement and promote mutual understanding in the interest of peace and security.

“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police has invited Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi to provide clarification on the statement and to foster mutual understanding in the interest of peace and security,” Ojelabi quoted the CP as saying.

Etaifo stressed that the invitation should not be misconstrued as intimidation, but as part of proactive measures to prevent the escalation of tensions and ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.

He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to neutrality, professionalism and the protection of democratic values throughout the electoral process.

The commissioner called on all political actors, their supporters and residents to remain law-abiding, avoid inflammatory rhetoric and pursue grievances through lawful channels.

The developments come just days before Saturday’s election, with political parties intensifying their final mobilisation efforts and security agencies stepping up measures to prevent violence before, during and after the poll.

Osun poll: APC big guns storm Osogbo as police warn against inflammatory rhetoric

Politics

INEC reprints Osun ballot papers, result sheets, includes SDP candidate

Published

5 hours ago

August 13, 2026

Trends Admin

INEC reprints Osun ballot papers, result sheets, includes SDP candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the reproduction of ballot papers and result sheets for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election following the court-ordered inclusion of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Dr Francis Olugbenga Ajala, and his running mate, Faseke Babajimi Oladipo, in the race.

The Commission, in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the decision followed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered on July 22, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/344/2026.

The suit was filed by the SDP and Ajala against INEC.

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The court ordered the Commission to “forthwith recognise, accept, upload, process and publish” Ajala’s name and particulars as the SDP candidate for the election.

INEC said the reproduced ballot papers would arrive in Osun State on Thursday, August 13, and would be distributed the same day to Local Government Area offices across the state in accordance with its established distribution procedure.

The Commission also confirmed that the result sheets were being reproduced alongside the ballot papers to reflect the addition of the SDP candidate.

With Ajala’s inclusion, the number of political parties participating in the governorship election has risen to 15.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC assured political parties, candidates and voters that it remained committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election in the state.

The Commission’s latest development comes just two days before the poll, adding a new dimension to the closely watched Osun governorship contest.

INEC reprints Osun ballot papers, result sheets, includes SDP candidate

Politics

Fadahunsi: ‘Kill Accord’ Comment Was Metaphorical, Not Call for Violence

Published

23 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Senator Francis Fadahunsi

Fadahunsi: ‘Kill Accord’ Comment Was Metaphorical, Not Call for Violence

Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has clarified his controversial “Kill Accord” comment, which has gone viral on social media ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

Fadahunsi, in a statement issued by his media office in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the remark was a political and metaphorical call on supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat the Accord Party through the ballot box and not through violence.

The clarification followed the circulation of a video in which the senator was heard speaking in Yoruba and allegedly urging APC supporters in Ilesa to attack members and supporters of the Accord Party.

In the video, Fadahunsi was also heard challenging those present to record his remarks and circulate them on social media.

Reacting to the controversy, the senator’s media office, in a statement titled, “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” said the statement had been misunderstood and deliberately misinterpreted.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement said.

According to the statement, Fadahunsi did not advocate violence, intimidation or physical attacks against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political organisation.

It stressed that the senator’s consistent position was that elections should be determined by the votes of the people rather than force.

“At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party,” the statement added.

The senator consequently urged APC supporters and other political actors to maintain peace and order before, during and after the election.

He also called on security agencies to remain professional and ensure that eligible voters were able to exercise their constitutional rights without fear or intimidation.

“Senator Fadahunsi remains committed to democratic values, issue-based campaigns and a credible electoral process. He believes that the will of the people, freely expressed through the ballot, must always prevail,” the statement said.

The media office appealed to members of the public not to distort the senator’s remarks, insisting that his intention was to encourage APC supporters to secure electoral victory through the power of their votes.

Meanwhile, the campaign council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate Fadahunsi’s comments and take appropriate action over what it described as remarks directed against members of the Accord Party.

The controversy comes days before the August 15 governorship election, with political parties and security agencies expected to intensify efforts to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process in the state.