By David Ogungbemi

Nigerians witnessed mixed reactions and feelings in the early hours of Wednesday, March 1, as the alter ego of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and returning officer of the 2023 presidential election, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who have reaffirmed the Commission's commitment towards delivering credible election and amidst the human rancors which is highly expected in the most populated African country and the giant of Africa. His firmness and candour proved that he is not moved by human shenanigans displayed before, during and after he declared the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as the winner of the hotly contested election which was held on Saturday, February 25.

A new dawn emerged.

Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi came second and third respectively in a contest that saw both of them win in 12 states each, just like the President-elect, Tinubu.

According to INEC’s data, 93.5 million eligible voters registered to participate in the election, out of which only 25.3 million participated and had their votes count.

Eighteen political parties candidates for the presidential election and hereinbefore is how they shared the 25.3 million valid votes in the election.

1. Imumolen Christopher (A) – 61,014

2. Hamza Al-Mustapha (AA) – 14,542

3. Omoyele Sowore (AAC) – 14,608

4. Dumebi Kachikwu (ADC) – 81,919

5. Yabagi Sani Yusuf (ADP) – 43,924

6. Bola Tinubu (APC) – 8,794,726

7. Peter Umeadi (APGA) – 61,966

8. Princess Ojei Chichi (APM) – 25,961

9. Charles Nnadi (APP) – 12,839

10. Sunday Adenuga (BP) – 16,156

11. Peter Obi (LP) – 6,101,533

12. Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP) – 1,496,687

13. Felix Johnson (NRM) – 24,869

14. Atiku Abubakar (PDP) – 6,984,520

15. Kola Abiola (PRP) – 72,144

16. Adewole Adebayo (SDP) – 80,267

17. Abdul-Malik Ado-Ibrahim (YPP) – 60,600

18. Dan Nwanyanwu – ZLP – 77,665

Vote distribution by states Candidates.    APC.      PDP.      LP.          NNPP Abia.                 8,914.  22,676   327,095.  1,239 Adamawa.   182,881.  417,611.  105,648.  8,006 Akwa Ibom  160,620.  214,012 132,683 7,796 Anambra.         5,111  9,036 584,621 1,967 Bauchi.         316,694 426,607 27,373 72,103 Benue.          310,468 130,081 308,372 4,740 Borno.          252,282 190,921 7,205 4,626 Bayelsa.         42,572 68,818 49,975 540 Cross River  130,520 95,425 179,917 1,644 Delta.             90,183 161,600 341,866 3,122 Ebonyi.          42,402 13,503 259,738 1,661 Edo.             144,471 89,585 331,163 2,743 Ekiti.            201,494 89,544 11,397 264 Enugu.             4,772 15,749 428,640 1,808 Fct, Abuja.     90,902 74,194 281,717 4,517 Gombe.        146,977 319,123 26,160 10,520 Imo.                66,171 30,044 352,904 1,536 Jigawa.        421,390 386,587 1,889 98,234 Kaduna.       399,293 554,360 294,494 92,969 Kano.            517,341 131,716 28,513 997,279 Katsina.        482,283 489,045 6,376 69,386 Kebbi.            248,088 285,175 10,682 5,038 Kogi.              240,751 145,104 56,217 4,238 Kwara.           263,572 136,909 31,166 3,141 Lagos.           572,606 75,750 582,664 8,442 Nasarawa.    172,922 147,093 191,361 12,715 Niger.             375,183 284,898 80,452 21,836 Ogun.             341,554 123,831 85,829 2,200 Ondo.             369,924 115,463 44,405 930 Osun.             343,945 354,366 23,283 713 Oyo.               449,884 182,997 99,110 4,095 Plateau.        307,195 243,808 466,272 8,869 Rivers.           231,591 88,468 175,071 1,322 Sokoto.         285,444 288,679 6,568 1,300 Taraba.         135,165 189,017 146,315 12,818 Yobe.            151,459 198,567 2,406 18,270 Zamfara.      298,396 193,978 1,660 4,044

Let the renew hope begins for all and sundry.

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