The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday zoomed into an early lead in the presidential election in 10 of 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which results were announced yesterday.
Of the votes so far collated, Buhari polled 8,520,436, ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who garnered 6,488,210 votes.
With the development, Buhari is leading Jonathan with 2,032,226 votes.
The APC candidate shot into the lead in 10 states —Ogun, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Oyo, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kwara, Kaduna.
Jonathan secured victory over Buhari in eight states and the FCT.
The states are Akwa Ibom, Imo, Plateau, Ekiti, Enugu, Nasarawa, Anambra, and Abia.
As at 11.15pm, the results from 18 states were still being awaited at the National Collation Centre(NCC) in Abuja.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who is the nation’s Chief Returning Officer, said the collation of results will resume by 10am today.
The results indicated that Nasarawa recorded the highest number of cancelled votes with 79,386, representing about 15 per cent of the votes in the state.
Other cancelled votes are as follows Oyo (1,850); Ondo(10,118); Ekiti ( 9,039) FCT (7,266); Osun(4,707); and Kogi ( two polling units in Dekina).
Some of the results were cancelled due to over-voting, snatching of ballot boxes and result sheets.
The State Collation Officers for the eight states and the FCT were the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Akure, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola(Ekiti); Deputy Vice Chancellor( Management Services) , UNILAG, Prof. Duro Oni( Ogun); the VC of UNIABUJA, Prof. M.E. Adikwu(Kogi); the Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Prof. Isaac Asuzu( Osun); VC Michael Okpara University, Prof. Hillary Edoga(Enugu); VC Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Abdulmumini Rafindadi(Nasarawa ); VC of UNAAB, Abeokuta, Prof. Olukolade Oyewole( Ondo); ex-VC of OAU Ile-Ife, Prof. Michael Faborode(FCT); and Deputy VC( Academic), OAU, Prof. Ayobami Salami(Oyo); Prof.C.C. Asimaka (Anambra); Prof. Benjamin Azumba (Abia); Prof. James Epoke (Akwa Ibom); Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe(Imo); Prof. Jafar Kaura(Kaduna); Prof. Muhammed Hamisu( Kano); Prof. James Ayate( Jigawa); Prof. Jibrilla Dahiru( Katsina); Prof. Musibau Akanji ( Kwara); and Prof. Emmanuel Ucha( Plateau).
Some of the agents of the parties at the session included Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed(APC); Ex- Minister Godsday Orubebe and Col. Bello Fadile(rtd) for PDP; Umar Mustapha( Kowa); Adegoke Saheed (AA); Lawal Abdul(PPN); Comrade Adebola Lateef ( NCP)
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, however, said the commission will not alter any presidential results presented at the National Collation Centre(NCC).
He added: “Some of these results were collated and presented in the presence of party agents and clearly they were accepted.
“If results were not contested at that level, I do not see why it has to be contested here. Once results are to the satisfaction of all and the State Collation Officer, we cannot do make any amendment here.
“We will however note any observation if it is significant enough for the results of any election.”
Earlier, Jega had listed 19 procedures which were followed before the collation and the announcement of the results.
He said: “As you are aware, the Presidential Election results are first collated at the states and the Federal Capital Territory and the State Collation Officer brings the original results here for presentation.
“There are about 19 specific steps in the procedure. We have followed these procedures up to this point.”
He also said INEC management cannot tamper with poll results being presented at the National Collation Centre by State Collation Officers.
As the results were being announced, there was panic in Abuja leading to the shutting down of most offices and markets.
It was gathered that most residents had responded to strange text message of likely violence.
All ministries, parastatals and private firms closed abruptly before 2pm.
Also, the collation of results forced top PDP leaders to hold series of meetings in Abuja.
A party source said: “Our leaders had been meeting to review the results from most of the states and what will be our attitude to the outcome of the presidential election.
“The truth is that we are not comfortable with the results from some states and the party leadership has already reacted and identified these states.”
