The electoral authorities began counting the votes for the presidential elections following some irregular elections, following reports of vandalized polling stations, technical problems to open the voting centers and the absence of personnel at the polls, among others.
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Nigerians went to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president and parliament in a vote considered the most open since Africa’s most populous nation transitioned from military rule to democracy in 1999.
The polling stations closed at 2:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. GMT) and the publication of the final tally must be given within two weeks, although the Electoral Commission promised to make an effort to publish them as soon as possible.
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Vote counting under way.
Polls #opened at 07:30 GMT and officially #closed at 1:30 PM GMT.
Sign up on https://t.co/xAHHAxbuZd to share your thoughts regarding Nigeria’s elections. pic.twitter.com/jkngRSvpi5
— West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) (@wacsi)
February 25, 2023
Some 93 million Nigerians in a country of 200 million people are registered to vote, according to the INEC electoral body, but only 87 million hold a permanent voter card (PVC), a main requirement to cast their vote.
The polls at 176,000 polling stations opened at 8:30 a.m. local time and will close at 2:30 p.m. However, voters who are in line to vote before closing time will still be able to cast their ballots, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said.
Aged woman ready to vote. Things we love to see#NigeriaDecides2023 #Nigeriaelections
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February 25, 2023
During the course of the elections, delays have been reported in the opening of voting centers.
A polling station in Lagos delayed opening because officials were still settling in following they were supposed to open the polls.
The same problem was reported in several centers, including in northern Kano State and southern Bayelsa State, with no election officials in sight.
There are also reports of groups that have vandalized polling stations, preventing voting and destroying the ballot boxes.
The INEC postponed voting for the presidential and National Assembly elections in 141 polling stations in the state of Bayelsa until tomorrow, Sunday, February 26, 2023.
These elections are particular in the African country following the nation is going through a serious economic and security crisis.
To ensure the security of the elections, the Nigerian Police reported the deployment of more than 301,900 security agents throughout the nation.
In addition, the country has announced the closure of all its land borders from last midnight until this Sunday.
On the other hand, all vehicle movements have been prohibited from 00:00 local time (23:00 GMT) to 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT) this Saturday.
President Muhammadu Buhari, 80, leaves office as required by the constitution following two terms marked by an escalation of insecurity and poverty in this country where 60% of the population is under 25 years of age.
Eighteen candidates are competing in this presidential race, but the polls indicate that only three have a real chance of winning: the Muslim Bola Tinubu, candidate of the governmental Congress of All Progressives (APC); Atiku Abubakar, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); and the Christian Peter Obi, from the Labor Party.
