(Lagos) Nigeria’s ruling party candidate, Bola Tinubu, won the most presidential votes in Africa’s most populous country on Wednesday, giving him an almost certain victory, according to reports. official results.
Mr. Tinubu, of the Congress of Progressives (APC), won 8.8 million votes, according to a state-by-state tabulation by AFP.
He is thus ahead of his two main rivals by a comfortable margin, after one of the most contested elections in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the main opposition party (the PDP which ruled the country from 1999 to 2015) obtained 6.9 million votes.
But following delays in the count, and major failures in the electronic transfer of results, the opposition accused the Congress of Progressives (APC, in power) of fraud.
He is closely followed by Peter Obi of the Labor Party (LP), who aroused immense hope among young people and won 6.1 million votes.
The National Electoral Commission (Inec) has yet to confirm that Mr. Tinubu, a Yoruba of Muslim faith, obtains 25% of the votes in at least two thirds of the 36 states of the federation as well as the territory of the capital Abuja, to be able to declare it winner of the presidential election in stride.
Before the end of the count, the opposition demanded the cancellation of the election, denouncing “massive” fraud.
Aged 70, Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos (southwest) and nicknamed “the godfather” because of his immense political influence, should succeed outgoing president Muhammadu Buhari, 80, who is stepping down after two terms as the wants the Constitution. Numerous accusations of corruption punctuate his career, but he has never been convicted and has always denied them.
This election is a crucial meeting. With its 216 million inhabitants, Nigeria should become the third most populous country in the world by 2050, while West Africa is threatened by a strong democratic decline and the spread of jihadist violence.
The continent’s leading economy has become a global cultural power, thanks in particular to Afrobeat, a musical genre that is setting the planet on fire with stars like Burna Boy and Wizkid.
But Mr. Tinubu will mostly inherit a myriad of problems. For four years, he will have the heavy task of redressing the English-speaking giant, weighed down by a flagging economy, recurrent violence by armed groups and bandits, as well as a general impoverishment of the population.
Fraud charges
Long given a big favorite in this election, thanks in particular to the national base of the ruling party and its fortune, Bola Tinubu had nevertheless seen his lead shrink as the campaign progressed.
Firstly because the person of Peter Obi, a 61-year-old former governor praised for his integrity, has largely won over a youth eager for change, tired of the aging and reputedly corrupt elite that governs it.
And then because very serious shortages of banknotes and gasoline, several weeks before the election, aggravated the already great anger of Nigerians against the government, with its disastrous results, between explosion of insecurity and the cost of life.
More than 87 million voters were called to the polls on Saturday and the ballot, whose participation is not yet known, took place overall in calm, despite security incidents and logistical hiccups.
But following delays in the count and significant failures in the electronic transfer of results, the parties of MM. Abubakar and Obi on Tuesday denounced “a sham” election for the benefit of the APC, demanding its “immediate cancellation” and the holding of a “new ballot”.
Their parties also questioned the independence of Inec, which in turn castigated “unfounded” accusations. She added that candidates were “free to go to court” if they felt aggrieved.
Since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigeria has held seven national elections, almost all of which have been contested.
Many foreign observers harshly criticized the lack of transparency in the poll.
The disappointment promises to be great for the supporters of the opposition and in particular of Peter Obi, who believed until the end in the possible victory of their candidate, embodying in their eyes the rupture and the advent of a fairer society. .
The United Nations issued an appeal for “calm” on Tuesday evening, asking candidates and their supporters to “refrain from any behavior that could undermine the electoral process” and “peace and stability”.