Saturday, October 17, 2026

Lagos, Abuja, other Nigerian cities quiet after INEC declared Bola Tinubu president-elect

At the day’s dawn, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Mr Tinubu of the APC, winner of the presidential election held on February 25.

and • March 1, 2023
Deserted street in Lagos
Deserted street in Lagos used to illustrate this story (AFP via Getty Image)

An unusual quietude pervaded ordinarily bustling Nigerian cities of Lagos, Abuja and Kano in the aftermath of the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the country’s President-elect on Wednesday.

At the day’s dawn, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, winner of the presidential election held on February 25.

Many Nigerians had trooped out on Saturday to cast their ballots for a candidate of their choice. Messrs Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi of Labour party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party received the most votes in the results announced by the electoral office.

INEC announced that Mr Tinubu scored 8,794,726 winning 12 states while Mr Abubakar scored 6,984,520 winning 12 states in Nigeria.

Checks by Peoples Gazette showed that the expected jubilation which ought to have characterised announced of the poll outcome was absent across the nation. A motley crowd of celebrants however dotted a street in Kano earlier in the day.

In Lagos, residents resumed their daily activities as before while the streets of Abuja looked deserted.

Leading opposition parties; PDP and LP, are still contesting the announced results, alleging that INEC ran foul of laid down regulations for the polls. Many Nigerians share the same sentiment.

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