BREAKING: Tinubu declared winner of presidential election by INEC

Former Lagos State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has been declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Tinubu emerged victorious after receiving 8,794,726 votes, beating his closest rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, by 1.8 million votes.

The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during the early hours of Wednesday at the International Collation Centre in Abuja.

Tinubu’s win marks his first time contesting for the presidency and he is credited with leading the coalition that ousted the PDP from power in 2015, extending his influence beyond the South-West region in recent years.

In addition to Atiku and the PDP, Tinubu also faced competition from the Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s Rabiu Kwankwaso, as well as several other candidates.

Tinubu’s victory was aided by his success in several northern and middle belt states, including Zamfara, Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Kogi States, while Atiku emerged victorious in Bauchi, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Adamawa and Akwa Ibom.

Obi, on the other hand, won in Lagos, Enugu, Cross River, Nasarawa, Imo, Anambra, Abia, Delta, Plateau states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In his victory speech, Tinubu thanked his supporters and promised to work towards fulfilling his campaign promises.

“I am grateful to the Nigerian people for entrusting me with this great responsibility. I assure you that I will work tirelessly to improve the lives of all Nigerians and fulfill my campaign promises,” Tinubu said.

Nigerians have taken to social media to share their reactions to Tinubu’s victory, with some expressing their excitement, while others are skeptical.

“I’m excited about Tinubu’s win. He has a track record of success in Lagos and I believe he will bring the same level of progress to the entire country,” said one Twitter user.

However, some Nigerians are concerned about the concentration of power in the hands of a few political elites.

“I’m worried that Tinubu’s victory means that the political elite will continue to dominate Nigerian politics. We need a change,” said another Twitter user.

Tinubu’s victory has also raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the election, with some alleging voter fraud and irregularities.

Despite these concerns, Tinubu’s supporters are celebrating his victory and are optimistic about the future of Nigeria under his leadership.