Nigeria, Africa's most populous and largest economy, has witnessed a historic presidential election on 25 February 2023. The election was marked by high stakes, fierce competition, and widespread challenges.

The incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC), was constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in office. His party nominated Bola Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State and a influential political figure, as its flagbearer. Tinubu faced off against Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), a former vice president and a wealthy businessman who had contested unsuccessfully three times before.

The election campaign was dominated by issues such as economic recession, rising inflation, unemployment, corruption, insecurity, and ethnic tensions. Both candidates promised to revive the economy, fight corruption, improve security, and foster national unity. They also appealed to various regional and religious constituencies to secure their votes.

The election day was marred by logistical problems, violence, and allegations of fraud. Some polling stations opened late or ran out of ballot papers. Some voters were intimidated or attacked by thugs or security forces. Some results were disputed or annulled by electoral officials or courts.

Despite these challenges, Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu the winner of the election on 28 February 2023². According to INEC⁴, Tinubu polled a total of 8,794,726 votes (51.4%) to defeat Abubakar who scored 6,984,520 votes (40.8%). Tinubu won in 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), while Abubakar won in 15 states². Tinubu met the constitutional requirement of getting a majority of the vote and over 25% of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 states and FCT³.

Tinubu's victory was hailed by his supporters as a historic achievement for Nigeria's democracy and development. They praised him for his track record as a visionary leader who transformed Lagos into a modern megacity and an economic hub¹. They also expressed hope that he would replicate his success at the national level and address Nigeria's pressing problems.

Abubakar's defeat was met with disappointment and anger by his followers who rejected the outcome as rigged and unfair. They accused INEC of colluding with APC to manipulate the results in favor of Tinubu⁵. They also alleged that some security agencies and regional leaders influenced voters through intimidation or inducement⁵. They vowed to challenge Tinubu's victory in court and demand a rerun.

The international community congratulated Nigeria for conducting a peaceful and credible election despite the difficulties⁵. They urged both candidates to respect the will of Nigerians and accept the result or seek legal redress if they have grievances⁵. They also called on all Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful during this critical period.

Nigeria's 2023 presidential election has been described as one of its most hotly contested since its return to civilian rule in 1999⁵. It has also been seen as a test for its democracy and stability amid turbulent times. The outcome has revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of Nigeria's electoral system and political culture. It has also raised hopes and fears for its future prospects.

(1) Nigeria presidential election results 2023 by the numbers. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/2/28/nigeria-presidential-election-results-2023 Accessed 05/03/2023.
(2) Nigeria election results 2023: Up-to-date results of presidential and .... https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/resources/idt-9ff664e9-8cf9-4948-93e5-3268debcee1b Accessed 05/03/2023.
(3) Nigeria 2023 general elections: INEC fix Feb. 25 for presidential poll .... https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-60527407 Accessed 05/03/2023.
(4) 2023 Nigerian presidential election. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Nigerian_presidential_election Accessed 05/03/2023.
(5) Nigeria presidential election 2023: Bola Tinubu declared winner amid .... https://abcnews.go.com/International/nigeria-presidential-election-2023-bola-tinubu-declared-winner/story?id=97543621 Accessed 05/03/2023.

Lol.. Did another election take place yesterday or the scam that happened on the 25th of February?

Baba is a cat with 9 lives. Interesting thing about him is that he is a fighter

To correct some errors:
Tinubu won 12 states and he did not win FCT.
I love the way the article concentrates on the first 2 candidates. The remaining are inconsequential.

Tinubu may lose the fight but Always wins the WAR