2023 Election Updates – #NigeriaDecides

Tinubu Votes In Lagos

Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress has voted. He voted at 10:27am amPU 085, Alausa Ikeja, accompanied by his wife, Oluremi.

Many journalists, both local and foreign media organisation, have thronged the polling unit of Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

As of 9:08am, INEC staff and election materials were yet to arrive at the polling unit, beside the Ikeja Shopping Mall, Alausa.

They arrived polling unit 085, Ward C around 9:41am.

#NigeriaDecides2023: No PVC, no voting, INEC insists on election day

Voters line up for accreditation at Itanla/Itumekun PU, Aga/Ijimu Ward, Ikorodu Lagos.

The electoral commission, INEC, has called on all accredited Nigerians with Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to go out and vote because their votes will count in the ongoing general election.

The electoral commission in a post published on its official Twitter page reassured citizens that all votes cast will count due to the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System ( BVAS) in this year’s elections.

“Is this your first time voting in an election? With the BVAS device be rest assured that your vote will count in this #NigeriaDecides2023 election,” INEC said, adding that Nigerians should “Come out and exercise your right to vote in a peaceful manner.”

But it also warned that registered voters have to go to their polling units with their PVCs, saying: “Remember; No PVC No Voting.”

In a short video tagged to the post, INEC explained that the BVAS device was introduced to replace the smart card reader used in previous elections, adding that the device will eliminate incidents of voter impersonation.

With the BVAS device, it said, voters’ authentication process will be much “easier and faster.”

Nigerians are voting to elect a new president and 468 federal lawmakers. Governorship and state assembly elections will follow on 11 March.

This year’s general election is the seventh since the restoration of democracy in the country. The previous elections were held in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Eighteen registered parties are fielding candidates in the elections. The presidential candidates and their parties are Christopher Imumolen (Accord), Hamza Al-Mustapha (AA), Omoyele Sowore (AAC), Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC), Yabani Sani (ADP), Bola Tinubu (APC), Peter Umeadi (APGA), Princess Ojei (APM) and Charles Nnadi (APP).

The others are Sunday Adenuga (BP), Peter Obi (LP), Rabi’u Kwankwaso (NNPP), Felix Osakwe (NRM), Atiku Abubakar (PDP), Kola Abiola (PRP), Adebayo Adewole (SDP), Ado Ibrahim Abdulmalik (YPP) and Dan Nwanyanwu (ZLP).

However, observers expect the race to be among four candidates: Messrs Tinubu, Atiku, Obi and Kwankwaso.

BREAKING: Atiku votes in Adamawa

The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has cast his vote in his hometown of Adamawa.

He exercised his franchise at Ajiya 02, in Gwadabawa Ward, Yola North Local Government of Adamawa.

Speaking after performing his civic duty, the former vice president expressed optimism that the process will be hassle-free for voters.

He said the process was simple and straightforward and that he cast his vote without ambiguity.

Furthermore, Atiku expressed optimism of succeeding the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Nigeria Elections 2023: Live Updates

Over 87 million out of the 93 million registered voters will cast their ballots on Saturday (today) to decide who takes over from the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on May 29, 2023.

According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, a total of 87,209,007 PVCs were collected, with 6,259,229 uncollected as of February 5.

Stakeholders have described the 2023 presidential election as a “tough race” in the history of the country, as four out of eighteen presidential candidates are jostling hard for the seat of the presidency.

The four major candidates are Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and Rabi’u Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Before a person can vote, he must be a Nigerian of 18 years of age or older, registered, and in possession of a permanent voter card, and must appear in person at the polling unit. The voter will vote in the polling unit where his or her name is listed.

The election will run from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

2023 Nigerian elections Overview

The 2023 Nigerian elections will be held, in large part, on 25 February and 11 March 2023. During this presidential election year, the President and Vice President will be elected on 25 February with incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari being term-limited. Additionally, there will also be elections on the same day for the Senate and the House of Representatives. On 11 March, twenty-eight gubernatorial elections will be held alongside elections to state houses of assembly in all 36 states. Two additional gubernatorial elections will be held later in the year alongside potential rerun elections for regularly scheduled elections annulled.

Nigeria is a country with a rich political history and a thriving democracy, and presidential elections are one of the most important events in the country’s political calendar. Presidential elections in Nigeria are held every four years, and are a time for Nigerians to elect a leader who will guide the country through the next four years.

The electoral body responsible for conducting presidential elections in Nigeria is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC is tasked with ensuring that elections are free, fair, and credible, and that the results accurately reflect the will of the people.

One of the unique features of Nigerian presidential elections is that the President is elected through a two-round system. This means that in order to win the election, a candidate must win a majority of the national popular vote, and at least 50% of the votes in at least 24 of the 36 states in Nigeria, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This system is designed to ensure that the President has a broad base of support across the country, and that no one region or ethnic group can dominate the election.

In order to be eligible to contest for the position of President in Nigeria, a person must be a Nigerian citizen by birth, be at least 35 years old, and must be sponsored by a political party that is registered with INEC. The election campaign period usually lasts for several months, during which time candidates engage in intense political activities, including rallies, town hall meetings, and media campaigns.

Political parties and their candidates spend huge sums of money to win over voters, and campaign promises often focus on issues such as infrastructure development, security, education, and job creation. Campaign rallies are a common sight across the country, and are often marked by colorful displays of support for the various candidates.

On election day, Nigerians come out in large numbers to cast their votes, and polling stations are usually crowded with voters eager to exercise their democratic rights. The security of voters, polling officials, and election materials is a major concern during Nigerian presidential elections, and security personnel are usually deployed to polling stations to maintain law and order.

After voting has ended, the results are collated and announced by INEC. The announcement of results is often preceded by a tense waiting period, during which the public eagerly awaits the outcome of the elections. The winner of the presidential election is sworn into office on May 29, which is the day that marks the beginning of a new four-year term of office for the President.

While Nigerian presidential elections have been generally peaceful and well-organized in recent years, there have been instances of election violence and malpractice. These issues have led to loss of lives and property in some cases, and have highlighted the need for improved security and electoral reforms in the country.

Here are some facts about Nigerian presidential elections:

Nigeria operates a presidential system of government, in which the President is both the head of state and head of government.
The President is elected for a term of four years, and can be re-elected for a second term of another four years.
The electoral body responsible for conducting presidential elections in Nigeria is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The first presidential election in Nigeria was held in 1979, after the military government handed over power to a civilian government.
Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria has conducted six presidential elections, in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019.
The 2015 presidential election in Nigeria was the first time an incumbent president (Goodluck Jonathan) was defeated in a democratic election in the country.
In the 2019 presidential election, a total of 73 candidates contested for the position of President, but only the candidates of the two major political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – were seen as serious contenders.
Voter turnout in Nigerian presidential elections has generally been low, with only about half of registered voters turning out to vote in the last few elections.
Election violence and malpractice have been a major challenge in Nigerian presidential elections, and have led to loss of lives and property in some cases.
The 2023 Nigerian presidential election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In Nigerian presidential elections, the winner is determined by a simple majority of the valid votes cast. This means that the candidate with the highest number of valid votes is declared the winner.
Nigerian presidential elections are usually contested by candidates from various political parties, but the two major parties are the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
To be eligible to contest for the position of President in Nigeria, a person must be a Nigerian citizen by birth, be at least 35 years old, and must be sponsored by a political party that is registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Campaigning for presidential elections in Nigeria is usually marked by intense political activities, including rallies, town hall meetings, and media campaigns. Political parties and their candidates spend huge sums of money to win over voters.
The Nigerian Constitution allows for the use of electronic voting machines in presidential elections, but this has not been fully implemented due to logistical and legal challenges.
The security of voters, polling officials, and election materials is a major concern during Nigerian presidential elections, and security personnel are usually deployed to polling stations to maintain law and order.
The results of Nigerian presidential elections are usually announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after collating the results from various polling units across the country. The announcement of results is often preceded by a tense waiting period, during which the public eagerly awaits the outcome of the elections.
The winner of the Nigerian presidential election is sworn into office on May 29, which is the day that marks the beginning of a new four-year term of office for the President. The swearing-in ceremony is usually held at the Eagle Square in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria.

The presidential elections in Nigeria are an important part of the country’s political landscape, and provide an opportunity for Nigerians to elect a leader who will guide the country through the next four years. The two-round system used in Nigerian presidential elections is designed to ensure that the President has a broad base of support across the country, and that the election reflects the will of the people. While challenges such as election violence and malpractice persist, efforts are being made to improve the electoral process and ensure that Nigeria’s democracy continues to thrive.

The Major Political Party in the 2023 Election

All Progressives Congress (APC)

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a major political party in Nigeria. It was formed in 2013 as a merger of four opposition parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), a faction of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The APC is generally regarded as a center-right party and is one of the two dominant parties in the country, alongside the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC has won several presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative elections since its formation, and is currently the ruling party at the national level. Its main policy priorities include anti-corruption, security, economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and social welfare. The APC government has also launched several initiatives, such as the National Social Investment Programme, the Treasury Single Account, and the Whistleblower Policy, aimed at improving governance and reducing corruption.

However, the APC has also faced criticism for alleged human rights abuses, lack of transparency, and economic challenges. The party has gone through several leadership changes and internal conflicts, and there have been reports of factions and power struggles within the party. The success of the APC in the upcoming 2023 general elections will depend on a number of factors, including its ability to address these challenges, present a united front, select credible candidates, and win the support of the Nigerian electorate.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is a major political party in Nigeria. It was founded in 1998, after the military regime that had been in power for many years handed over to a civilian government. The PDP is generally regarded as a center-left party and is one of the two dominant parties in the country, alongside the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP has a broad-based support base and is composed of a wide range of politicians, intellectuals, businesspeople, and ordinary citizens. It has won several presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative elections since its formation, and has been the ruling party at the national level for many years. However, it has also faced criticism for alleged corruption, lack of internal democracy, and other issues.

In recent years, the PDP has gone through several leadership changes, and has been working to reposition itself ahead of the 2023 general elections. Some of its key policy priorities include job creation, poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, security, and infrastructure development. The PDP’s success in the upcoming elections will depend on a number of factors, including its ability to mobilize support, select popular and credible candidates, and effectively communicate its message to voters.

Labour Party (LP)

The Labour Party (LP) is a political party in Nigeria that was founded in 2002 by labor union leaders and other progressive activists who were seeking to establish a political platform for the Nigerian labor movement. The party’s ideology is based on social democracy, and its primary objective is to promote the welfare and interests of the Nigerian working class.

In the past, the LP has fielded candidates in various national and state-level elections, including presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative elections. However, the party has not been able to win any significant electoral victories or hold any major political power. The LP has also faced several challenges, including leadership crises, factionalism, and lack of funding.

The current status and future prospects of the Labour Party in Nigeria depend on various factors, including its ability to reposition itself as a credible alternative to the dominant parties, mobilize support from the Nigerian labor movement and other segments of the population, and present a clear and compelling policy platform that resonates with the electorate. It remains to be seen how the party will fare in the upcoming 2023 general elections.