Nigeria election 2023: Voting day as it happened

1. Voting counting is under way in Africa's most-populous nation
2. The process was marred by long delays as polling stations failed to open on time
3. The electoral chief blamed logistical and security problems
4. More than 87 million people were eligible to vote, many of them aged under 34
5. Three of 18 candidates are seen as frontrunners to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari
6. Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar represent the two main parties. Peter Obi is backed mainly by young people in urban areas

Rain marks end of voting on historic day

Nduka Orjinmo

BBC News, Abuja

AFP

It is now raining heavily in the capital, Abuja - the first time this year and symbolically marking the official end to voting.

Those who are superstitious are reading meanings into the rain, while those who stayed around during the sorting of ballots at polling stations have scuttled for cover.

It has been an eventful day with security fears and logistical problems being blamed for delays to voting – people are still in queues in some parts of the country.

Some images sum up the enthusiasm of young voters, like the bride who turned up to vote in her wedding dress:

Amid violence at a polling station in Lagos state, a woman was stabbed but later returned to vote with her patched up face to cheers from other voters.

All eyes will now be on the central collation centre here in Abuja where the results from the hundreds of thousands of polling units will be sent - it is likely to be a slow process.

There will now be a nail-biting wait for the outcome of the most competitive presidential election since the end of military rule.

On that note we end our live coverage of the vote. BBCAfrica.com will have the latest updates.

Vote counting and football in Lagos

The BBC's Andrew Gift says vote counting has started in some areas of Lagos:

Andrew Gift/BBC

He says a lot of young people came out to cast their votes, saying they wanted a change in the leadership of the country, some of them were first-time voters

Despite some outbreaks of violence at a few polling stations in Lagos, it has been a relatively calm affair.

Earlier the BBC's Ayo Bello snapped people playing football on streets that would usually be full of traffic:

Ayo Bello/BBC

Ayo Bello/BBC

Cheers in Lagos as election officials finally arrive

Nkechi Ogbonna

BBC News, Lagos

Voters in Lagos cheered as electoral officers arrived at a polling station in the suburb of Lekki nearly four hours after polls officially closed.

When the BBC visited the polling unit at Dowen College earlier today there were no election officials, no voting materials or security operatives.

Ofure Ukhuegbe, a voter who has been waiting there all day, filmed the arrival. She says people are determined to vote tonight regardless of the time:

Peaceful voting in Kaduna amid low turnout

Onyinye Chime

BBC News, Kaduna

Things in Kaduna have been peaceful so far as some polling units begin winding down voting and results are being collated and sent to the wards.

Voting however continues in many parts of this northern state as voters wait patiently for their turn to cast their votes.

The delay in many polling units were due to the late arrival of sensitive election material.

Only three security incidents have been officially reported so far.

One such incident was in the southern part of the state capital where Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (Bvas) devices and ballot boxes were snatched.

The turnout of voters, particularly women, is quite low.

Kaduna state has a registered voters population of more than four million.

BreakingInec suspends election in some Bayelsa polling units

Nduka Orjinmo

BBC News, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has suspended elections at 141 polling units in the oil-rich southern state of Bayelsa.

Inec boss Mahmood Yakubu said the elections were postponed until Sunday because the voting process was disrupted.

Frayed tempers in Sokoto amid delayed voting

Usman Binji

Journalist, Sokoto city, Sokoto state

Voting in Sokoto in the far north-west of Nigeria is proving a serious business - and tempers have become somewhat frayed on occasion in the scorching heat here.

Several polling stations in Sokoto city opened late because voting material failed to arrive - one hadn’t even started business by 14:30 local time (13:30 GMT) when things should have been wrapping up.

At one polling unit in the suburb of Mabera Gidan Jariri, for example, with 700 registered voters, only 300 presidential and senatorial ballots arrived and none came for the house of representatives ballot.

A misunderstanding between party agents in another part of the city, in Gobirawa, resulted in tear gas being fired at two polling units.

Usman Binji

Voters became rowdy on account of the row and electoral officials halted the proceedings as two police officers tried to deal with the situation.

Elsewhere voting has been calm and the queuing continues.

Voting coming to a close in Ibadan despite delays

Adedayo Okedare

BBC Yoruba, Ibadan

Voting has ended in most of the polling units I have visited in the city of Ibadan in Nigeria’s south-west - with others just rounding off business.

Proceedings did start late is some areas, even at the polling station where Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde eventually cast his vote.

These delays were mainly due to the late arrival of electoral officials.

But the election has been peaceful so far and no reports of electoral violence or the destruction of electoral materials.

Lines of people who were in the queue at 14:30 local time (13:30 GMT) when polls officially closed have been allowed to cast their ballot.

All votes cast will be transported to the state headquarters of in the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) later in the day

NPR journalist reports running from gunshots in Lagos

An NPR journalist has tweeted that he had to run from gunshots in Surulere, Lagos, at the Akerele polling unit.

There have been reports of disturbances in Lagos throughout the afternoon.

Atiku Abubakar wins his polling unit in Adamawa

Yemisi Adegoke

BBC News, Yola, Adamawa state

The presidential candidate for the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has won his polling unit in Yola, in the north-eastern state of Adamawa.

The results were as follow:

• PDP - 282
• APC - 57
• LP - 6
• Alliance Party - 2
• NNPP - 1
• Boot Party - 1

Bola Tinubu wins his polling unit in Lagos

Azeezat Olaoluwa

BBC News, Lagos

The presidential candidate for the APC, Bola Tinubu, has won his polling unit in Lagos.

There were frantic scenes earlier in the day as the press tried to get snaps of Mr Tinubu as he cast his vote.

The results were as follows:

• APC - 33
• LP - 8
• PDP - 1
• YPP - 1

Security forces in every 'nook and cranny' of Taraba

Sani Sulaiman

Journalist, Jalingo, Taraba state

Sani Sulaiman

Voting has been very peaceful in Jalingo, capital of Taraba - a state in the east of the country that borders Cameroon.

People are still queuing to cast their ballot but they are likely to be finished within the next hour.

A huge amount of people turned up early - some joining lines as early as 04:00 local time (03:00), more than four hours before polling started. This was a wise decision as the heat has been excessive and umbrellas and cold water are a must for those still queuing.

The voter card accreditation devices, which use biometric data, worked well at most of the polling units I visited.

Sani Sulaiman

At two polling stations there were problems with the machines, but officials were able to fix them.

However, the finger prints of a few people were rejected, which meant they were unable to vote - much to their dismay.

Security is extremely tight across the state. One security official told me that officers had been deployed to every “nook and cranny” to prevent violence.

The state has had a problem with kidnapping for ransoms. Recently seven relatives of local monarch the Emir of Mutum Biyu, Sulaiman Sani Duna, were kidnapped – one has been killed and one released so far.

One man was shot dead at a road block in Jalingo after running away when questioned.

But generally the streets are mainly deserted because of today’s restriction on movement and the only activity to be found is at polling stations, where security agents are keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.

Voting delays in Nigeria's tightly contested poll

By Nduka Orjinmo

BBC News, Abuja

Abuja voters wait patiently under the heat

Peter Okwoche

BBC Focus on Africa TV, Abuja

AFP

Here in Abuja, voting has officially closed but there are still long queues at some polling units that I have visited.

Those still waiting say they are determined to cast their vote despite heat of 34C.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has promised that everyone who is in the queue will be allowed to vote.

The chaotic start has been blamed on the late arrival of ballot material and officials as well as malfunctioning machines used to verify the voters.

Despite these delays Abuja remains peaceful. There was a huge military presence earlier in the day, which has dissipated somewhat.

The people are being patient, but how long that patience will last remains anyone’s guess.

Large turnout and empty streets in Anambra

Chris Ewokor

BBC News, Awka, Anambra state

BBC/ Chris Ewokor

There has been a massive turnout of voters in Anambra state and across the south-east of Nigeria.

As early as 06:00 GMT (07:00 local time) voters started trickling into the polling centres.

They were soon filled up, as electoral officers arrived and set up their equipment for the vote to commence.

By noon, the centres were busy with hundreds of voters trooping in to exercise their franchise.

Many of the voters say they were encouraged to come out because of the heavy presence of security deployed across the region.

Security checks were mounted at major road intersections both in the towns and rural communities.

Movement has been restricted today across the country, leaving major roads empty here.

Anambra is the home state of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, who voted around noon along with his wife, at a polling centre near his house.

He has described the process as peaceful and well organised where he voted and noted that the security concerns in the south-east have been exaggerated.

In neighbouring Imo state electoral officers and voting materials were yet to arrive some polling centres by 13:00 GMT. Hundreds of voters say they have been waiting for hours to cast their vote, but so far, the wait has been in vain.

Enugu state, which also neighbours Anambra, has also seen a massive voter turnout. But most voters complain that the process of accreditation has been slow.

Lagos first-time voters and best friends want jobs

Mayeni Jones

BBC News, Lagos

BBC/ Mayeni Jones

Quidirat Sani (right) convinced her friend Michael Rita (left) to come out to vote

In Obalende near Lagos Island voters say turnout has been unusually high.

First time voters and best friends, Qudirat Sani, 27 and Michael Rita, 26, say they were inspired to cast their votes because they want the next president to tackle youth unemployment.

Ms Sani, a student, told me she only decided to pursue a master's degree because she could not find a job after first graduating from university.

She hopes the next president will improve the situation.

Ms Rita, a primary school teacher, says Ms Sani encouraged her to come out but she is glad she is casting her vote.

“I don’t think young people thought their votes mattered in the past. But now we believe they do.”

Nigeria’s most populous nation usually has a low turnout, only 35% of eligible voters showed up in 2019.

Some are hoping the youth vote will result in a higher turnout this time round.

Atiku Abubakar's home state sees peaceful voting

Yemisi Adegoke

BBC News, Yola, Adamawa state

Reuters

Contrary to reports of violence and intimidation across the country, voting in Yola, capital of the north-eastern state of Adamawa, has been a peaceful affair with no major hiccups.

The state is home to presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of the opposition PDD, one of the frontrunners in the race.

A few polling units started the process late, resulting in some queues, but there have been little to no complaints from voters.

Many have praised the electoral commission for the way the election has been run in the state.

Pandemonium, bottles and sticks amid Lagos violence

Nkechi Ogbonna

BBC News, Lagos

BBC/ Gift Ufuoma

There have been violent incidents at several polling stations in Lagos.

At one visited by the BBC, in Channels Estate, in Ajah, a suburb of Lagos, a group of men were seen leaving holding bottles and sticks and leaving ballot papers spread on the ground.

“There was pandemonium, people ran and scuttled away for their lives. We did not expect it. We’ve been here since morning and this people came from nowhere and threw everything out,” Mrs Okonta, a voter, told the BBC.

No military or security presence could be seen at the centre by the BBC at the time the incident occurred.

“We are standing our ground and we’re going to cast this vote because it’s our future and the future of our children," Mr Ade, another voter, told the BBC.

In AtIgbokusu, near the Lekki area of Lagos, Sunny Njokua told the BBC that a group of boys arrived holding bottles and machetes and chased people away.

“They stole the Inec officials’ phones and took the three ballot boxes, now elections have been disrupted and discontinued,” he alleged.

The BBC could see thumb printed ballot papers and broken polling booths littered all around the unit, and some of the people who were there to vote presented minor injuries and bruises.

Leaning on the arms of her husband, who had a bleeding arm, Dr Okoli Nkem, was limping because of a sprained ankle.

She says it was a peaceful atmosphere as accreditation and voting had begun until the area was thrown into chaos.

“Bottles were flying in the air and masked men approached the polling unit. They broke the boxes and stole the phones of the electoral officials and now we can’t vote," Dr Nkem said.

Immediately after Nigerian army officers arrived at the venue and assured voters of their safety.

Kano sees minor hitches as voting continues

Mansur Abubakar

BBC Pidgin, Kano

In Kano state, voting is ongoing at the moment in most parts of the state without major hitches.

AFP

Apart from few cases of card rejection by the machine, many have since voted and gone home.

One of the frontrunner presidential candidates, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party - a former governor of Kano - voted earlier in Madobi town.

AFP

Good business amid peaceful Anambra vote

Chris Ewokor

BBC News, Awka, Anambra state

BBC/Chris Ewokor

Some business people are making money today selling water, soft drinks and groundnuts as well as fruit to voters at polling units set up at a primary school in the Amobia of Awka city in the south-eastern state of Anambra.

Six hours into voting and the goods are proving a much-needed refreshment for people who are waiting to cast their ballot. Although polls have officially closed, those in the queue can still vote.

BBC/Chris Ewokor

At another polling station, in Anambra's Agulu town, voting has been calm and orderly as voters are directed to check for their names and confirm their details.

Then they are told to sit down in a queue on a row of seats arranged for voters.

There are more older people here but l am made to understand that the younger voters are allowing their elders to cast their ballots first:

BBC/Chris Ewokor

BBC/Chris Ewokor

Only those in queues can now vote

Nduka Orjinmo

BBC News, Abuja

Reuters

Voting has officially ended but the millions of people who are in queues at polling stations nationwide can still cast their ballot.

In some places in the south of the country, voting has not even started.