Peter Obi: We will prove we won Nigeria election

ArtmotionMarch 2, 2023

0 0 8 minutes read

Reuters

By Nduka OrjinmoBBC News, Abuja

The candidate who came third in Nigeria's presidential elections has vowed to prove in court that his supporters were "robbed" of victory.

Labour Party's Peter Obi, who gained 25% of the votes according to official results, was speaking in public for the first time since the weekend poll.

"We won the election and we will prove it to Nigerians," he said.

Bola Tinubu of the ruling APC party was declared the winner, with 37% of the vote.

Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition PDP came second with 29%.

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Mr Obi said Saturday's elections would go down as "one of the most controversial elections in Nigeria's history".

"The good and hard-working people of Nigeria have again been robbed by our supposed leaders whom they trusted," he told journalists on Thursday.

He has 21 days from the day the results were announced to challenge the result at Nigeria's highest appeal court.

Mr Obi refused to say what evidence he had to prove that he won the election but his challenge is likely to be based on the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to publish results from the polling units in real time using a new electronic transmission system.

Inec's guideline for the election explicitly states that results from each of the more than 176,000 polling stations will be electronically transmitted to the commission's collation system and also uploaded to its website.

But that was not possible on Saturday, with Inec apologising for what it called "technical glitches". It said that any discrepancies between results on the portal and "physical results" would be investigated and resolved.

Inec also blamed delays on factors beyond its control, like the lack of internet access at some polling stations, for its inability to upload the results.

But days after the elections ended, the commission has still not uploaded all the results from the polling units to its website.

The elections were marred by lengthy delays which saw some voters queuing through the night to cast their ballots and voting extended to Sunday in some areas.

There were also some cases of arming men attacking polling stations and stealing ballot boxes.

But it is not clear whether such problems were enough to affect the outcome, as Mr Tinubu had a margin of victory of about 1.8 million votes.

Although Mr Obi was with the PDP until last year, and was its vice-presidential candidate in 2019, he was seen by many as a fresh face, and mounted a strong challenge to the two parties which have dominated Nigeria since the end of military rule in 1999.

He gained particular support among young people, especially in the south, who feel they have been failed by previous generations of political leaders.

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Nigeria election results 2023: Up-to-date results of presidential and parliamentary races

Nigerians cast their votes in Saturday’s general election. They had 18 candidates to choose from for president and people also voted for senators and members of the house of representatives. The BBC is using data provided by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to tally the results.

Nigeria presidential results 2023

To win in the first round, a candidate must have the largest number of votes nationwide and at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)

Last updated: 01/03/2023, 11:50:02 local time (GMT+1)

Final results

Candidates

Votes

36.61%

Bola Tinubu

8,794,726

All Progressives Congress

Votes

8,794,726

At least 25% of state votes

29.07%

Atiku Abubakar

6,984,520

Peoples Democratic Party

Votes

6,984,520

At least 25% of state votes

6.23%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,496,687

New Nigeria Peoples Party

Votes

1,496,687

At least 25% of state votes

25.4%

Peter Obi

6,101,533

Labour Party

Votes

6,101,533

At least 25% of state votes

2.7%

Others

648,474

Others

Votes

648,474

At least 25% of state votes

Nigeria presidential results 2023

To win in the first round, a candidate must have the largest number of votes nationwide and at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)

Last updated: 01/03/2023, 11:50:02 local time (GMT+1)

Final results

Candidates

Votes

Bola Tinubu

NaN%

Bola Tinubu

8,794,726

All Progressives Congress

Votes

8,794,726

At least 25% of state votes

Atiku Abubakar

NaN%

Atiku Abubakar

6,984,520

Peoples Democratic Party

Votes

6,984,520

At least 25% of state votes

Rabiu Kwankwaso

NaN%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,496,687

New Nigeria Peoples Party

Votes

1,496,687

At least 25% of state votes

Peter Obi

NaN%

Peter Obi

6,101,533

Labour Party

Votes

6,101,533

At least 25% of state votes

Others

NaN%

Others

648,474

Others

Votes

648,474

At least 25% of state votes

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Presidential election results by state

All Progressives Congress (APC)

Labour Party (LP)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Others

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

Undeclared

Nigeria
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

8,794,726

36.61%

Atiku Abubakar

6,984,520

29.07%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,496,687

6.23%

Peter Obi

6,101,533

25.4%

Others

648,474

2.7%

Abia
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

8,914

2.41%

Atiku Abubakar

22,676

6.13%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,239

0.33%

Peter Obi

327,095

88.4%

Others

10,113

2.73%

Adamawa
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

182,881

25.01%

Atiku Abubakar

417,611

57.12%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

8,006

1.1%

Peter Obi

105,648

14.45%

Others

16,994

2.32%

Akwa Ibom
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

160,620

28.94%

Atiku Abubakar

214,012

38.55%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

7,796

1.4%

Peter Obi

132,683

23.9%

Others

39,978

7.2%

Anambra
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

5,111

0.83%

Atiku Abubakar

9,036

1.47%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,967

0.32%

Peter Obi

584,621

95.24%

Others

13,126

2.14%

Bauchi
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

316,694

37.1%

Atiku Abubakar

426,607

49.98%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

72,103

8.45%

Peter Obi

27,373

3.21%

Others

10,739

1.26%

Bayelsa
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

42,572

25.75%

Atiku Abubakar

68,818

41.63%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

540

0.33%

Peter Obi

49,975

30.23%

Others

3,420

2.07%

Benue
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

310468

40.32%

Atiku Abubakar

130,081

16.89%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4,740

0.62%

Peter Obi

308,372

40.04%

Others

16,414

2.13%

Borno
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

252,282

54.22%

Atiku Abubakar

190,921

41.03%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4,626

0.99%

Peter Obi

7,205

1.55%

Others

10,253

2.2%

Cross River
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

130,520

31.3%

Atiku Abubakar

95,425

22.89%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,644

0.39%

Peter Obi

179,917

43.15%

Others

9,462

2.27%

Delta
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

90,183

14.66%

Atiku Abubakar

161,600

26.26%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

3,122

0.51%

Peter Obi

341,866

55.56%

Others

18,570

3.02%

Ebonyi
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

42,402

13.03%

Atiku Abubakar

13,503

4.15%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,661

0.51%

Peter Obi

259,738

79.83%

Others

8,047

2.47%

Edo
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

144,471

24.85%

Atiku Abubakar

89,585

15.41%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

2,743

0.47%

Peter Obi

331,163

56.97%

Others

13,304

2.29%

Ekiti
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

201,494

65.38%

Atiku Abubakar

89,554

29.06%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

264

0.09%

Peter Obi

11,397

3.7%

Others

5,462

1.77%

Enugu
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

4,772

1.05%

Atiku Abubakar

15,749

3.45%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,808

0.4%

Peter Obi

428,640

93.91%

Others

5,455

1.2%

Gombe
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

146,977

28.82%

Atiku Abubakar

319,123

62.57%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

10,520

2.06%

Peter Obi

26,160

5.13%

Others

7263

1.42%

Imo
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

66,406

14.21%

Atiku Abubakar

30,234

6.47%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,552

0.33%

Peter Obi

360,495

77.13%

Others

8693

1.86%

Jigawa
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

421,390

45.78%

Atiku Abubakar

386,587

42%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

98,234

10.67%

Peter Obi

1,889

0.21%

Others

12,431

1.35%

Kaduna
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

399,293

29.36%

Atiku Abubakar

554,360

40.76%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

92,969

6.84%

Peter Obi

294,494

21.65%

Others

19,037

1.4%

Kano
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

517,341

30.4%

Atiku Abubakar

131,716

7.74%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

997,279

58.59%

Peter Obi

28,513

1.68%

Others

27,156

1.6%

Katsina
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

482,283

45.56%

Atiku Abubakar

489,045

46.19%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

69,386

6.55%

Peter Obi

6,376

0.6%

Others

11,583

1.09%

Kebbi
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

248,088

44.34%

Atiku Abubakar

285,175

50.97%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

5,038

0.9%

Peter Obi

10,682

1.91%

Others

10,539

1.88%

Kogi
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

240,751

52.7%

Atiku Abubakar

145,104

31.77%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4,238

0.93%

Peter Obi

56,217

12.31%

Others

10,480

2.29%

Kwara
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

263,572

56.08%

Atiku Abubakar

136,909

29.13%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

3,141

0.67%

Peter Obi

31,166

6.63%

Others

35,183

7.49%

Lagos
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

572,606

45.04%

Atiku Abubakar

75,750

5.96%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

8,442

0.66%

Peter Obi

582,454

45.81%

Others

32,199

2.53%

Nasarawa
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

172,922

32%

Atiku Abubakar

147,093

27.22%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

12,715

2.35%

Peter Obi

191,361

35.41%

Others

16,299

3.02%

Niger
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

375,183

47.09%

Atiku Abubakar

284,898

35.76%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

21,836

2.74%

Peter Obi

80452

10.1%

Others

34,299

4.31%

Ogun
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

341,554

58.88%

Atiku Abubakar

123,831

21.35%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

2,200

0.38%

Peter Obi

85,829

14.79%

Others

26,710

4.6%

Ondo
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

369,924

67.5%

Atiku Abubakar

115,463

21.07%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

930

0.17%

Peter Obi

44,405

8.1%

Others

17,341

3.16%

Osun
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

343945

46.91%

Atiku Abubakar

354366

48.33%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

713

0.1%

Peter Obi

23283

3.18%

Others

10,896

1.49%

Oyo
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

449,884

55.58%

Atiku Abubakar

182,977

22.6%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4,095

0.51%

Peter Obi

99,110

12.24%

Others

73,419

9.07%

Plateau
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

307,195

28.23%

Atiku Abubakar

243,808

22.41%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

8,869

0.82%

Peter Obi

466,272

42.85%

Others

62,026

5.7%

Rivers
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

231,591

44.23%

Atiku Abubakar

88,468

16.89%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,322

0.25%

Peter Obi

175,071

33.43%

Others

27,199

5.19%

Sokoto
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

285,444

48.64%

Atiku Abubakar

288,679

49.19%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

1,300

0.22%

Peter Obi

6,568

1.12%

Others

4,884

0.83%

Taraba
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

135,165

27.07%

Atiku Abubakar

189,017

37.85%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

12,818

2.57%

Peter Obi

146,315

29.3%

Others

16,043

3.21%

Yobe
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

151,459

40.03%

Atiku Abubakar

198,567

52.48%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

18,270

4.83%

Peter Obi

2,406

0.64%

Others

7,695

2.03%

Zamfara
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

298,396

59.33%

Atiku Abubakar

193,978

38.57%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4,044

0.8%

Peter Obi

1,660

0.33%

Others

4,845

0.96%

Abuja
Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

90,902

19.76%

Atiku Abubakar

74194

16.13%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

4,517

0.98%

Peter Obi

281717

61.23%

Others

8,741

1.9%

Presidential election results by state

Last updated: 01/03/2023, 11:50:02 local time (GMT+1)

Click on map to see results in detail

All Progressives Congress (APC)
Labour Party (LP)

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Others

New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Undeclared

Reset
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Select a state

Vote distribution

Candidates
Votes
%

Bola Tinubu

NaN%

Atiku Abubakar

NaN%

Rabiu Kwankwaso

NaN%

Peter Obi

NaN%

Others

NaN%

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Senate results by party

Last updated: 01/03/2023, 11:50:02 local time (GMT+1)

Party	Seats
All Progressives Congress	49
Peoples Democratic Party	28
New Nigeria Peoples Party	2
Labour Party	6
Others	4
Undeclared	20

Source: Independent National Electoral Commission

House of Representatives results by party

Last updated: 01/03/2023, 11:50:02 local time (GMT+1)

Party	Seats
All Progressives Congress	37
Peoples Democratic Party	14
New Nigeria Peoples Party	11
Labour Party	12
Others	0
Undeclared	286

Source: Independent National Electoral Commission

Credits

Designers: Millicent Wachira and Olaniyi Adebimpe; Visual Artists: Mayowa Alabi and George Wafula: Data Journalists: Yusuf Akinpelu and Brian Osweta; Developers; Boaz Ochieng, Marcos Gurgel, Ayu Widyaningsih Idjajaand and David Ayoola; Project Lead: Dorothy Otieno.