Welcome to our live coverage of the Nigeria presidential election 2023.

We shall be bringing to you updates from the 36 states of Nigeria, as over 87 million Nigerians are expected to elect their next president among 18 contestants.

Data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shows that voting is expected to take place in 176,846 polling units across 774 local government areas (LGAs) on Saturday, 25 February.

According to the commission, voting opens at 8:30am and closes 2:30pm

The 18 candidates include Kola Abiola of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP); Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Adebayo Adewole of the Social Democratic Party (SDP); Malik Ado-Ibrahim of the Young Progressives Party (YPP); Okwudili Anyajike of the National Rescue Mission (NRM); and Ojei Chichi of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), the only female presidential candidate in this year’s election.

Others are Christopher Imumolen of the Accord Party (AP); Dumebi Kachikwu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Hamza al-Mustapha of the Action Alliance (AA); Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); Adenuga Oluwafemi of the Boot Party (BP); Nnadi Osita of the Action Peoples Party (APP); Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC); Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); Peter Umeadi of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Sani Yusuf of the Action Democratic Party (ADP),

This thread is open to everybody participating in the election. We encourage you to use the comment form below to report activities at the various polling units and collation centres across the country.

You can also send eyewitness/incident reports to editor@developmentdiaries.com.

Refresh this page for updates.

LIVE UPDATES

Saturday, 25 February, 2023

Development Diaries reports that the National Collation Centre for the 2023 general election would officially be open on 26 February 2023 at 12:00pm.

8:55pm: PU 108, New Site, FHA, Abuja. It is observed that voting is ongoing at the moment.

8:00pm: Development Diaries observes that no polling unit result has been uploaded on the IReV portal.

05:29pm: PU 002, Ahense LGEA, Benue State, counting of votes is ongoing. All party agents are present.

The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu disclosed during his last briefing that the commission has suspended the election in the Esan and Igueben federal constituency in Edo State.

05:09pm: In polling unit 003, Kukwaba 1, Bwari Area Council, FCT, it was discovered that only 200 persons voted out of 2,000 registered voters, with just one BVAS machine.

Update from INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu’s briefing revealed that in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in wards 4,6,8,14, comprising of 141 polling units, the process was disrupted and security officials were mobilised to contain the situation.

04:35pm: From polling unit 001, Uyam ward, in Ukum LGA of Benue State, counting of votes has commenced.

04:30pm: We understand that due to delay in the commencement of the voting process, accreditation and voting are still ongoing at Hotoro North Primary School II, Nasarawa LGA, Kano State, northwest Nigeria.

The environment is calm.

04:00pm: PU 1 and 2, Edjeba (Primary School), Ward 10, Warri South, Delta State

Voting is just about to commence, due to the late arrival of INEC materials which was about 02:15pm. Prospective voters who have been on ground since 07:15am are happy with the arrival of the materials.

03:12pm: PU 002, Ward 05, Mushin, Lagos

Development Diaries reports that the INEC presiding officer announced that election in the polling unit is voided.

02:25pm: PU 006, Amedem Hall, Igbo-Etiti, Ikolo/Ohebe Ward, Enugu State

Voters in this polling unit await the result sheets.

01:51pm: PU 007, Ward 12, Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State

INEC officials are still yet to arrive.

01:30 pm: PU 005, Ohazu Ward, Abia South, Abia State.
Development Diaries reports that no BVAS was available in this polling unit.

12:35pm: PU 001, Angwa Phase one, Centre Primary School, Karu, FCT

Voting is ongoing smoothly, no record of violence. Voters commended INEC for beginning the accreditation and voting process as early as 8:30am.

11:41am: PU 019, 020, 021, 025, Ward 08, Enugu South

There was no INEC official present at this time.

11:15am: From PU 005 (Angwa Hausawa), Karu area of the FCT, an electorate (in blue) votes in pain after sustaining an injury from a motorcycle accident.

11:12am: PU 005, (Angwa Hausawa), Karu village, AMAC

An elderly citizen is being given priority by officials to cast his vote; he was not allowed to join the queue.

11:10am: PU 040, Karu (Mosalashi), AMAC

Voting commenced at 8:30am, and the registration process has been smooth.

10:46am: PU 033, Area A (By Nothing pass God road), AMAC

There are over 100 voters on ground, with some of them complaining of difficulty in locating their polling units.

The voting process is ongoing.

10:45am: PU 24, Nyanya Market Junction, AMAC

Voting is ongoing, and the process is peaceful. Development Diaries recorded the presence of two police personnel and one NSCDC official.

9:45am: PU 147, Beside UBA ATM Gallery (Mogadishu Cantonment)Abuja Municipal Area Council.

INEC Adhoc staff still setting up voting materials to commence accreditation. Voters are in queue waiting to begin the voting process.

9:40am: PU 025, Sani Abacha road, (Mogadishu Cantonment), Abuja Municipal Area Council.

INEC Adhoc staff just arrived at the polling unit and are setting up. They complained of receiving materials late from the headquarters.

A voter who spoke to Development Diaries complained of not being able to identify his polling unit as the officials are yet to organise themselves.

8:53am: PU 025, PW Primary School, Pitch 1, Usman Ward, Bwari Area Council

New voters are experiencing difficulty in locating their polling units. Security personnel are nowhere in sight.

8:30am: PU 020, Delim/FCT Ward, Apo Resettlement

At 8:30am, the time when accreditation should have begun, INEC officials are yet to arrive the Delim/FCT Ward.

This voter, Janet Anebi, amongst other voters, expressed dissatisfaction at the late arrival of INEC officials.

She said, ‘INEC officials always come late to this polling unit and when they come late they do things in a hurry. If they are not here how will they ensure everyone votes before 2:00pm’.

8:25am: PU 020, Delim/FCT Ward, Apo Resettlement

A 72-year-old voter, Comfort Madu spoke to Development Diaries, expressing her eagerness to vote.

‘I came here to vote for a president for my nation Nigeria. My prayer is that God will give us a leader that will lead us aright’, she said.

08:01am: PU 020, Delim/FCT Ward, Apo Resettlement

Voters have arrived and are waiting for INEC officials to arrive.

07:01: Early sights from Kubwa Expressway, Abuja. Minimal movements on the expressway, with voters commuting to their respective polling units.