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Chinedu Okafor

Bayo Wahab

Samson Toromade

<p>The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The commission's chairman, <strong>Prof. Mahmood Yakubu</strong>, announced the former Lagos governor winner of the election after four days of collating the results of the February 25 election at the National Collation Centre in Abuja.</p>

<p>Tinubu won 12 states across the country, the same as his two closest rivals, but he secured more votes than <strong>Atiku Abubakar</strong> of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and <strong>Peter Obi</strong> of the Labour Party (LP). The third republic senator secured 8,794,726 to defeat Atiku who finished second with 6,984,520 votes and Obi who finished third with 6,101,533 votes.</p>

Peter Obi (left) and Atiku Abubakar (right) were on the same presidential ticket in 2019, but they were opponents on the ballot in 2023 and lost to Tinubu

<p>The LP and PDP have strongly condemned INEC's handling of the election and rejected the collation process for not being transparent enough. They accused the APC of rigging the polls, called for the cancellation of the election and demanded the resignation of Yakubu.</p>

<p>The election is the most closely contested since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999. Tinubu lost his home state of Lagos but recovered with wins in key areas including Rivers, Zamfara, Borno, Jigawa, Kogi and Kwara. He also won in Benue, Ekiti, Niger, Ogun, Ondo and Oyo.</p>

Vice-president-elect, Kashim Shettima (left), and president-elect, Bola Tinubu (right) [Twitter/@officialABAT]

<p>Atiku won in his native Adamawa, as well as in Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Osun, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.</p>

<p>Obi swept through his southeast region — Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. He also won in Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).</p>

<p><strong>Rabiu Kwankwaso</strong> of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) polled nearly a million votes in Kano to win the state and finish with a total of 1,496,687 votes. He also joined calls for the election to be cancelled a day after the LP and PDP walked out of the National Collation Centre.</p>

<p>The LP and PDP are expected to escalate their grievances with the process and challenge the legitimacy of Tinubu's victory in court. But as it stands, the 70-year-old will take over from <strong>Muhammadu Buhari</strong> as Nigeria's new president on May 29, 2023.</p>

Buhari is poised to hand over Aso Rock Villa to his fellow party man, Bola Tinubu [Twitter/@officialABAT]

<p>INEC will issue the president-elect and the vice-president-elect, <strong>Kashim Shettima</strong>, their certificates of return at 3 pm on Wednesday, March 1, 2023.</p>

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.

BREAKING: Tinubu wins Nigeria's most closely-fought presidential election

<h2>Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to cancel all elections that do not pass credibility and transparency test.</h2>

<p>The former President said this in a letter to Buhari amid <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/labour-party-calls-for-cancellation-of-2023-presidential-election/5czjwtz">calls for the cancellation of the 2023 presidential election</a> by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).</p>

<p>While the collation of the election results was ongoing at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, the agents of the two parties walked away after they failed to prevail on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend the collation and announcement process.</p>

<p>Wading in on the issues, Obasanjo in his letter on Monday, February 27, 2023, alleged that INEC officials tampered with BVAS machines and manipulated election results.</p>

<p>The ex-president advised the INEC boss to save Nigeria from “<em>the looming danger and disaster</em>”, saying election results that were not uploaded on INEC server would not be accepted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>The letter reads</strong>: “Nigerian Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all. I am constrained to speak at this point. I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead,” the letter reads.</p>

<p>“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the action of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.</p>

<p>“Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.</p>

<p>“It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.</p>

<p>“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice.</p>

<p>“At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic act of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.</p>

<p>“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen. If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days — no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no uploading through Server, no result to be acceptable.</p>

<p>“Whereas, BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration. Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this wonderful opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.</p>

<p>“Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed.”</p>

Obasanjo in his letter on Monday, February 27, 2023, alleged that INEC officials tampered with BVAS machines and manipulated election results.

President Muhammadu Buhari and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo urges Buhari to cancel compromised election, says tensions are building up

<h2>The Labour Party has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel the ongoing collation and announcement of the 2023 presidential election results.</h2>

<p>The DG presidential campaign council of the party, Akin Osuntokun announced this in a press conference shortly after some party agents walked out of the collation centre.</p>

<p>The party said its members have lost confidence in the electoral process.&nbsp;</p>

The party said its members have lost confidence in the electoral process.&nbsp;

Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi. [Twitter:@PeterObi]

BREAKING: Labour Party calls for cancellation of 2023 presidential election

Nurudeen Shotayo

<h2>As the February 25, 2023 presidential election draws ever so near, frontline presidential candidates have continued to travel the length and breadth of the country in their frantic effort to convince Nigerians to vote for them.</h2>

<p>The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in its last update on voter registration disclosed that 93,469,008 voters have been registered for the upcoming exercise. These voters are spread across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While every vote, irrespective of where it’s being cast, is important in winning an election, the candidates and political parties in the 2023 contest will spare no effort to dominate certain states with high voting populations.</p>

<p>Even though the outcomes of recent presidential elections in the country have established the fact that no single state or region can determine who emerges the winner, a convincing win for a candidate in the majority of these states may take them closer to victory.</p>

<p>Therefore, the jostle for dominance in these states with high voting populations is expected to get thicker as we inch closer to the D-Day.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Lagos — 7,060,195 voters</strong></h3>

<p>Known as Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos leads the way in terms of voting population in the country. With an estimated population of over 20 million people, the South West state may play a key role in determining the next Nigerian president.</p>

<p>However, candidates would be worried about the state’s notorious history of low voter turnout, especially in presidential elections. In 2019, despite having the highest number of registered voters, states like Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna recorded more votes than Lagos.</p>

<p>An interesting aspect of this is, since 2003, all the candidates that managed to win Lagos have gone on to become president.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><strong>Kano — 5,921,370 voters</strong></h3>

<p>With the reputation of being the most politically active state in the country, Kano state has always led the conversation in terms of highest voter turnout in presidential elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>History has also shown that Kano voters are usually unanimous in their voting pattern. In 1999, the state voted overwhelmingly for the eventual winner, <strong>Olusegun Obasanjo</strong>. However, voters in the North West state have consistently pledged their allegiance to <strong>Muhammadu Buhari</strong> since 2003.</p>

<p>It’s interesting to note that no other candidate has won the majority of votes in Kano in the last 20 years. But, with Buhari not on the ballot this time around, it remains to be seen the direction the state will go.</p>

<h3><strong>Kaduna — 4,335,208 voters</strong></h3>

<p>All eyes will also be on Kaduna in the forthcoming election, not only because it’s the state with the third highest number of registered voters, but also for its cosmopolitan nature.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kaduna is believed to be the melting pot of different tribal and ethnic groups in Nigeria and its heterogeneous nature usually reflects on the voting pattern over the years.</p>

<p>Though Muslims are in the majority in the state, at the return to democracy in 1999 and also in 2003, Kaduna voted massively for Obasanjo, a Southern Christian. However, the state, just like Kano, has since 2011 been voting for Buhari.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, as the state is up for grabs in the coming election, all the frontline candidates have devised strategies to ensure that they win the majority of votes in Kaduna.</p>

<h3><strong>Rivers — 3,537,190 voters</strong></h3>

<p>Rivers state has proven to be a one-party state since 1999 with PDP dominating especially in the presidential elections.</p>

<p>No other party has been able to record up to 25% of total votes cast in a presidential election in Rivers State in the last six election cycles.</p>

<p>However, history also shows that not every time a candidate takes Rivers that they go on to win the election. This trend actually started in 2015 when President Buhari scored enough winning margin in some northern states to cushion the gap.</p>

<h3><strong>Katsina — 3,516,719 voters</strong></h3>

<p>Katsina, the state of the outgoing president, has shown loyalty to one of its illustrious sons in the last five election cycles.</p>

<p>The only time another candidate won the state was in 1999 when Buhari was not on the ballot, the same scenario we have on our hands again this time around. While winning Katsina state may not necessarily guarantee victory for any candidate in the upcoming election, it’d be interesting to find out if the Buhari factor will still come into play.</p>

<p>These are the other states with large voting populations ahead of the 2023 election:&nbsp;</p>

5 states that could determine Nigeria’s next president.

All the serious presidential candidates will deploy every trick in their books to ensure they get the maximum votes from these states.

5 states that could determine Nigeria’s next president

<h2>The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has cleared the polling unit of President Muhammadu Buhari with a near-flawless victory.</h2>

<p>The president has faced numerous allegations that he's not in full support of his party's candidate. The 80-year-old <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/buhari-publicly-displays-his-vote-for-everyone-to-see-in-daura/9v9hbyz">publicly displayed his ballot paper</a> to the media after he voted at his Sarkin Yara polling unit, in Daura, Katsina State, perhaps to silence the rumours.</p>

<p>Buhari can also now flaunt the result of his polling unit to solidify his relationship with Tinubu who scored 523 votes when officials announced the result hours after voting ended on Saturday, February 25, 2023.</p>

<p><strong>Atiku Abubakar </strong>of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whom Buhari beat in the 2019 election, scored three votes, and the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), <strong>Peter Obi</strong>, scored zero.</p>

Muhammadu Buhari raises Bola Tinubu's hand [Twitter/@officialABAT]

Tinubu won the polling unit as expected.

Tinubu wins 99.4% of votes in Buhari's polling unit

<h2>The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned voters that will be participating in today's presidential and national assembly elections against using their mobile phones and any other photographic devices to take pictures of the party they cast their votes for.</h2>

<p>The commission, therefore, urged voters to either do away with their devices or desist from operating them completely once in the voting cubicle.</p>

<p>This was disclosed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC Voter Education and Publicity Committee, <strong>Barrister Festus Okoye</strong>, during a news programme on Channels Television.</p>

<p>INEC warned that anyone caught using their mobile phones or any photographic devices in the voting cubicle will be jailed upon conviction.</p>

<p>According to the INEC official, “<em>No one will be allowed to take his or her phone to the voting cubicle. It is prohibited.</em></p>

<p><em>“Officials of the ICPC, EFCC and security agencies will be on hand to monitor and ensure that the law in that respect is not violated.</em>”</p>

<p><strong><em>Pulse </em></strong>reports that this is one of the means the electoral umpire has devised to eliminate vote buying from the electoral process.</p>

<p>Perpetrators of this heinous crime usually instruct the voter to take the picture of their ballot paper to show as evidence of the party they have voted for in exchange for money or other items used for inducement.</p>

INEC warned that anyone caught using their mobile phones or any photographic devices in the voting cubicle will be jailed upon conviction.

A woman at a polling booth about to vote in Oniru, Lagos (Pulse)

INEC bans mobile phones,  photographic devices in voting cubicle

Adeayo Adebiyi

<h2>87.2 million Nigerians have the opportunity to fill 470 federal seats today.</h2>

<h3>11:20 am: Kano State Governor Ganduje casts vote </h3>

<p>The Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje has casted his vote in his polling unit in Magwan, Nassarawa Local Government of Kano State. He belongs to the All Progressive Congress and he's in his second term as the governor. </p>

<h3>11:05 am: Voting continues across the country</h3>

<p>Voting has continued across Nigeria where the electorate will be electing new president and their representatives at the National Assembly. Voters across the country have shared images of the voting process in their various polling units and the process has been peaceful so far.</p>

<h3>10:45: Tinubu address media after casting his vote</h3>

<p>The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed the press after he casted his vote in PO 085 Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja. Tinubu described the process as smooth while expressing optimism on a high voter turnout.</p>

<h3>10:34 am: Vice President Osibanjo and wife cast votes in Ogun State</h3>

<p>Nigeria's Vice President Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and his wife have casted their votes in Polling Unit 14 in Ikenne, Ogun States. The Vice President belongs to the All Progressives Congress whose presidential candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu.</p>

<h3>10:30 am: EFCC Officials arrive Bola Ahmed Tinubu's polling unit</h3>

<p>The men of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission have been spotted at Po 085, Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja which is the polling unit of APC's presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is in line with their task of curbing vote buying in the 2023 elections.</p>

<h3>10:07 am: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrives polling unit to cast his vote</h3>

<p>The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived at his polling unit in 085, Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja where he will be casting his votes.</p>

<p>Tinubu is among the 18 candidates vying for the office of the president in the 2023 elections.</p>

<h3>10:03 am: President Muhammadu Buhari votes in Kastina State</h3>

<p>President Muhammadu Buhari has voted in his polling unit PU 003 at Sarkin Yara ward A, in Daura, Katsina. President Buhari has spent 8 years in power and he will be handing over to a new government on May 29, 2023.</p>

<h3>10:00 am: Folasade Tinubu-Ojo daughter of APC presidential candidate arrives polling unit</h3>

<p>Folasade Tinubu-Ojo the Iyaloja of Lagos who's also the daughter of the All Progressives Congress candidate has arrived her polling unit in 085, Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja.</p>

<h3>9:30 am: INEC officials finally arrive at Bola Tinubu's polling unit</h3>

<p>After some delay INEC officials have finally arrived at polling unit 085, Ward 3, Sunday Adigun, Alausa, Ikeja, which is where the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, will be casting his vote.</p>

<h3>9:15 am: Peter Obi arrives polling unit</h3>

<p>The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, <strong>Peter Obi</strong>, has arrived at his polling unit in PU 019, Umudimakasi Square, Agulu, Anambra State. He expresses his optimism of victory while also stating that he isn't looking for a position in the cabinet of his opponents.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I&#39;m not looking for a job in any other candidate&#39;s cabinet - Obi <br><br>Labour Party&#39;s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi exuding confidence on election day says he is not looking to serve in any other cabinet because he is coasting to victory<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NigeriaDecides2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NigeriaDecides2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/4LCPpSTAcU">pic.twitter.com/4LCPpSTAcU</a></p>&mdash; ARISE NEWS (@ARISEtv) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISEtv/status/1629394708983062528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h3>9:13 am: Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, casts vote in Ede</h3>

<p><strong>Governor Ademola Adeleke</strong> has cast his vote for the presidential and National Assembly elections today in Ede, Osun State.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just In!<br>Governor Ademola Adeleke just finished voting for Atiku Abubakar and other PDP candidates in Ede, Osun State. <a href="https://t.co/TOi8uEKDCf">pic.twitter.com/TOi8uEKDCf</a></p>&mdash; Premier (@SodiqTade) <a href="https://twitter.com/SodiqTade/status/1629392542646120449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h3>9:11 am: PDP's presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar votes in Adamawa</h3>

<p>Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party as gone through he accreditation process before casting his vote in his polling unit in Ajiya 02, in Gwadabawa Ward, Yola North Local Government of Adamawa State.</p>

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Presidential candidate of PDP,  Atiku Abubakar casting his vote from Jimeta. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/verdict2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#verdict2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/1TUxpp8n1J">pic.twitter.com/1TUxpp8n1J</a></p>&mdash; NTA News (@NTANewsNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/NTANewsNow/status/1629393461911728128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h3>9:04 am: Heavy Security presence as soldiers mans parts of the highways in Lagos state</h3>

<p>Soldiers have set up road blocks in different parts of Lagos state in an enforcement of the Operation Safe Conduct which is aimed at ensuring orderliness during the 2023 elections.</p>

Soldiers set up road block in Isolo-Oshodi road

<h3>8:49 am: INEC Staff begins setting up voting materials in parts of Lagos</h3>

<p>INEC Staff can be seen setting up the voting materials in Smaila Street, Mende, Maryland as early voters are preparing to exercise their franchise.</p>

<p>Voters are starting to arrive at their polling units all over Nigeria.</p>

<h3>06:10 am: When will voting start?</h3>

<p>Voting will commence at 8:30 am in polling units all over Nigeria, and end at 2:30 pm, but whoever is already accredited and on the line to vote by the time of the deadline will still be allowed to vote.</p>

<h3>06:07 am: How many Nigerians will vote?</h3>

<p>There are 93.5 million Nigerians on the national voters' register but 6.3 million of them have not collected their Permanent Voter's Card (PVC) in time to vote today. This leaves <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/over-87m-voters-collected-pvcs-to-vote-on-saturday-inec/h4y3le7">the number of voters eligible to vote at 87.2 million</a>, the highest ever for any Nigerian election.</p>

<p>Nigeria's voters' turnout rate has been sliding down since 2003, but there are high hopes of an impressive turnout today.</p>

The turnout rate in Nigerian elections has been going down since 2003

<p>The closeness of the race between the top three candidates has fueled speculations of a possible runoff election. That only happens when no candidate scores the highest number of votes while also winning 25% of votes in at least 24 states. You can read more about what would happen <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/what-is-a-run-off-election-and-how-is-it-conducted/twwslg8">if a runoff election becomes necessary</a>.</p>

<h3>06:02 am: Who's running for president?</h3>

<p>Let's keep a few things in mind before we go into the excitement of the day. There are 18 presidential candidates on the ballot, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/18-candidates-who-want-to-be-nigerias-next-president/y8q61f2">and you can read about all of them here</a>, but the three frontrunners with strong chances of victory are <strong>Atiku Abubakar</strong> of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), <strong>Bola Tinubu</strong> of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and <strong>Peter Obi</strong> of the Labour Party (LP). <strong>Rabiu Kwankwaso</strong> of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) is also expected to have some say in today's contest.</p>

<p>Welcome to Pulse Nigeria's coverage of the 2023 presidential election. Millions of Nigerians will decide today who will replace <strong>President Muhammadu Buhari</strong> who will leave office on May 29, 2023.</p>

President Muhammadu Buhari will say goodbye to Aso Rock Villa in three months

<p>Let's also not forget the National Assembly elections will happen at the same time as the presidential election. Hundreds of candidates are battling for the 109 seats in the Senate and 360 seats in the House of Representatives.</p>

Who's going to come out on top and win Nigeria's most valuable political seat?

Nigeria's 2023 presidential election is closely-contested by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu,

Follow our live updates of the 2023 elections

<h2>On Saturday, February 25, 2023, Nigerians will head to the polls to elect a new president and members of the National Assembly.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As citizens, you’re expected to perform your civic duties without breaching the laws that guide the electoral process.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Any conduct that amounts to the breach of these laws is deemed an electoral offence and is punishable under the Constitution or the Electoral Act.</p>

<p>Whether you’re a candidate or a voter, there are some conducts that can get you into trouble on election day.</p>

<p>As prescribed by the law, below are the electoral offences you must avoid.</p>

<h3><strong>Ballot materials</strong></h3>

<p>a. Unlawful possession of a ballot paper.</p>

<p>b. Illegal printing of ballot papers.</p>

<p>c. Illegal production or importation of ballot boxes.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty:</strong> A maximum fine of N50 million or a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Improper use of voter’s card</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Unlawful giving of a voter’s card to some other person for use at an election other than an officer appointed to do so; being in possession of more than one voter’s cards.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N1 million or imprisonment for 12 months or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Impersonation and voting when not qualified</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: A person voting or attempting to vote when he/she is not qualified, or inducing a person to vote at an election knowing that such person is not qualified.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N500,000 or 12 months imprisonment or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Dereliction of duty and announcing false result</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: A polling officer failing to report on time or to discharge his/her duties on an election day without lawful excuse.</p>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Announces or publishes a false election result.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: 36 months imprisonment.</p>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Returning officer or collation officer or person delivering a false certificate of return.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: Three years imprisonment without an option of fine.</p>

<p>a. Paying a bribe to affect the result of an election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>b. Receiving any money or gift to vote or refrain from voting at any election.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Requirement of secrecy in voting</strong></h3>

<p>a. Not maintaining the secrecy of voting at a polling unit.</p>

<p>b. Interfering with a voter casting their vote.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Wrongful voting and false statements</strong></h3>

<p>b. Publishing any statement of the withdrawal of a candidate or about their personal character.</p>

<h3><strong>Voting by unregistered persons</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: To bring into a polling unit a voter’s card issued to another person.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Disorderly conducts at elections</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Inciting others to act in a disorderly manner.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.</p>

<p><strong>Offences</strong>: Within a distance of 300 metres of a polling unit:</p>

<p>a. Canvassing for votes, persuading any voter not to vote for any particular candidate or being in possession of any offensive weapon, wearing or displaying any notice, symbol, photograph or party card.</p>

<p>b. Using any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party, loitering around a polling unit blaring siren.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of six months.</p>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Snatching or destruction of any election material.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: 24 months imprisonment.</p>

<h3><strong>Undue influence</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Accepting money or any other inducement during an election.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A fine of N100,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.</p>

<h3><strong>Issuing threats of violence</strong></h3>

<p>a. Threatening a person with violence or injury to compel that person to vote or refrain from voting.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A fine of N1 million or imprisonment for a term of three years.</p>

<h3><strong>Campaign and campaign finance</strong></h3>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Unlawful possession of a weapon at a political rally or voting centre.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N2 million or imprisonment for a term of two years or both.</p>

<p><strong>Offence</strong>: Threatening any person with violence during any political campaign.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: In the case of an individual, a maximum fine of N1 million or imprisonment for a term of 12 months. In the case of a political party, a fine of N2 million in the first instance, and N500,000 for any subsequent offences.</p>

<p><strong>Offence: </strong>A political party, advertising in a newspaper, radio or TV less than 24 hours before polling day.</p>

<p><strong>Penalty</strong>: A maximum fine of N500,000.</p>

<p><strong>Offence: </strong>Broadcasting or publishing any material to promote or oppose a particular political party or a candidate during 24 hours immediately preceding or on polling day.</p>

As prescribed by the law, here are the electoral offences you must avoid.

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