2023 Nigerian elections#State elections

{{Infobox election

| country = Nigeria

| election_name = 2023 Nigerian elections

| previous_election = 2019 Nigerian general election

| previous_year = 2019

| election_date = 2023

| next_election = 2027 Nigerian elections

| next_year = 2027

| module = {{Infobox election

| embed = yes

| election_name = Presidential election

| type = presidential

| turnout = 26.71% ({{decrease}}8.04pp)

| needed_votes = Absolute majority and at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of states

| image1 = 130x130px

| nominee1 = {{nowrap|Bola Tinubu}}

| running_mate1 = {{nowrap|Kashim Shettima}}

| party1 = All Progressives Congress

| home_state1 = Lagos

| states_carried1 = 12

| popular_vote1 = 8,794,726

| percentage1 = 36.61%

| image2 = 130x130px

| nominee2 = {{nowrap|Atiku Abubakar}}

| running_mate2 = {{nowrap|Ifeanyi Okowa}}

| party2 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)

| home_state2 = Adamawa

| states_carried2 = 12

| popular_vote2 = 6,984,520

| percentage2 = 29.07%

| image4 = 130x130px

| nominee4 = {{nowrap|Peter Obi}}

| running_mate4 = {{nowrap|Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed}}

| party4 = Labour Party (Nigeria)

| home_state4 = Anambra

| states_carried4 = 11 + FCT

| popular_vote4 = 6,101,533

| percentage4 = 25.40%

| image5 = 130x130px

| nominee5 = {{nowrap|Rabiu Kwankwaso}}

| running_mate5 = {{nowrap|Isaac Idahosa}}

| party5 = New Nigeria Peoples Party

| home_state5 = Kano

| states_carried5 = 1

| popular_vote5 = 1,496,687

| percentage5 = 6.23%

| map_image =

| map_caption = States won by PDP (in green) and APC (blue)

| title = President

| before_election = Muhammadu Buhari

| before_party = All Progressives Congress

| after_election = Bola Tinubu

| after_party = All Progressives Congress

| module = {{Infobox legislative election

| embed = yes

| ongoing = no

| election_name = National Assembly elections

| heading1 = Senate

| party1 = All Progressives Congress | leader1 = {{nowrap|Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan}} | seats1 = | last_election1 = 64 | current_seats1 = 64

| party3 = YPP | leader3 = Ifeanyi Ubah{{efn|name=fnSoleMemberSenate|Party's sole member of the Senate}} | seats3 = | last_election3 = 1 | current_seats3 = 1 | color3 = #ED3237

| party4 = All Progressives Grand Alliance | leader4 = Enyinnaya Abaribe{{efn|name=fnSoleMemberSenate}} | seats4 = | last_election4 = 0 | current_seats4 = 1

| party5 = New Nigeria Peoples Party | leader5 = Ibrahim Shekarau{{efn|name=fnSoleMemberSenate}} | seats5 = | last_election5 = 0 | current_seats5 = 1 |

| heading6 = House of Representatives

| party8 = New Nigeria Peoples Party | leader8 = Rufai Ahmed Alkali{{efn|name=fnPartyChairman}} | seats8 = | last_election8 = 0 | current_seats8 = 8

| party9 = All Progressives Grand Alliance | leader9 = Victor Ikechukwu Oye{{efn|name=fnPartyChairman|Party chairman; not a member of the House of Representatives}} | seats9 = | last_election9 = 9 | current_seats9 = 5

| party10 = SDP | leader10 = Vacant{{efn|name=fnPartyChairman}} | seats10 = | last_election10 = 1 | current_seats10 = 5

| party11 = LP | leader11 = Julius Abure{{efn|name=fnPartyChairman}} | seats11 = | last_election11 = 1 | current_seats11 = 3

| party12 = ADC | leader12 = Leke Abejide{{efn|name=fnSoleMember|Party's sole member of the House of Representatives}} | seats12 = | last_election12 = 3 | current_seats12 = 1

| party13 = PRP | leader13 = Umar Abdulkadir Sarki{{efn|name=fnSoleMember}} | seats13 = | last_election13 = 2 | current_seats13 = 1

| party14 = Accord | leader14 = Shina Peller{{efn|name=fnSoleMember}} | seats14 = | last_election14 = 0 | current_seats14 = 1

| module = {{Infobox election

| embed = yes

| election_name = Gubernatorial elections

| type = legislative

| seats_for_election = 30 governorships

| ongoing = no

| 1blank = Seats up

| 2blank = Seats won

| party1 = All Progressives Congress

| seats_before1 =

| seats_after1 =

| seat_change1 =

| 1data1 =

| 2data1 =

| party2 = Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)

| seats_before2 =

| seats_after2 =

| seat_change2 =

| 1data2 =

| 2data2 =

| party3 = All Progressives Grand Alliance

| seats_before3 =

| seats_after3 =

| seat_change3 =

| 1data3 =

| 2data3 =

| map_image =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

}}}}}}

}}

The 2023 Nigerian elections were held in large part on 25 February and 11 March 2023. The president and vice president were elected on 25 February, with incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari ineligible to run, being term-limited.{{cite web |last1=Jimoh |first1=Abbas |title=INEC Sets New Dates For 2023 General Elections |url=https://dailytrust.com/just-in-inec-sets-new-dates-for-2023-general-elections |website=Daily Trust |access-date=26 February 2022 |date=26 February 2022}} Additionally, there were also elections on the same day for the Senate and the House of Representatives. On 11 March, twenty-eight gubernatorial elections were held alongside elections to state houses of assembly in all 36 states. Three additional gubernatorial elections will be held later in the year alongside potential rerun elections for regularly scheduled elections annulled from earlier in the year.

Electoral system

The President of Nigeria is elected using a modified two-round system with up to three rounds. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a plurality of the votes and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a majority of votes in the highest number of states. In the second round, a candidate still must receive the most votes and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to be elected. If neither candidate passes this threshold, a third round will be held where just majority of the votes is required to be elected.

The 109 members of the Senate are elected from 109 single-seat constituencies (three in each state and one for the Federal Capital Territory) by first-past-the-post voting.{{Cite web|date=2018-02-16|title=National Assembly {{!}} Federal Republic of Nigeria|url=https://nass.gov.ng/page/about-the-senate|access-date=2020-12-18|website=National Assembly|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216064208/https://nass.gov.ng/page/about-the-senate|archive-date=2018-02-16}} The 360 members of the House of Representatives are also elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.{{Cite web|title=IPU PARLINE database: NIGERIA (House of Representatives), Electoral system|url=http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2363_B.htm|access-date=2020-12-18|website=Inter-Parliamentary Union}}

Similarly to the president, Governors are elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive the plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of state local government areas. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a plurality of votes in the highest number of local government areas.

The 991 members of the state Houses of Assembly are elected using first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.

Federal elections

=Presidential election=

==All Progressives Congress primary==

{{main|2023 Nigerian presidential election#All Progressives Congress}}

With President Muhammadu Buhari having been elected to the office of president twice, he was ineligible for renomination. There was no formal zoning agreement for the APC nomination despite calls from politicians and interest groups such as the Southern Governors' Forum to zone the nomination to the South as Buhari, a northerner, was elected twice.{{cite web |title=2023: APC In Fresh Dilemma Over Zoning, Convention |url=https://dailytrust.com/2023-apc-in-fresh-dilemma-over-zoning-convention |website=Daily Trust |date=25 June 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021}}

The party held its indirect presidential primary on 8 June 2022 in Abuja and nominated Bola Tinubu former Governor of Lagos State.{{cite web|title=LIVE: Bola Tinubu Declared Winner Of APC Presidential Primary|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2022/06/08/live-a-big-task-ahead-buhari-addresses-apc-delegates-before-primary-election/|website=Channelstv |access-date=8 June 2022}}{{Cite news|date=2022-06-08 |title=Tinubu wins APC presidential ticket |language=en |agency=Reuters |url=https://dailypost.ng/2022/06/08/tinubu-wins-apc-presidential-ticket/ |access-date=2022-06-08}} In mid-June, the APC submitted the name of Kabir Ibrahim Masari—a politician and party operative from Katsina State—as a placeholder vice presidential nominee to be substituted at a later date.{{cite web |last1=Erezi |first1=Dennis |title=Tinubu submits name of running mate to INEC |url=https://guardian.ng/breakingnews/tinubu-submits-name-of-running-mate-to-inec/ |website=The Guardian |date=17 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} On 10 July, Ibrahim Masari formally withdrew as vice presidential nominee and the later that day, Tinubu announced Kashim Shettima—Senator for Borno Central and former Governor of Borno State—as his replacement.{{cite web |last1=Akinboyo |first1=Temidayo |title=UPDATED: Tinubu finally names Shettima as running mate |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/541904-breaking-2023-tinubu-finally-names-shettima-as-running-mate.html |website=Premium Times |access-date=10 July 2022}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
colspan="5" style="background:{{party color\|All Progressives Congress}};" \| APC ticket
Presidential nominee ! Vice Presidential nominee
style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Bola Tinubu ! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Kashim Shettima
File:Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (5980497975) (Cropped).png \| File:Kashim Shettima - Sambisa Forest, 2017.png
Governor of Lagos State {{small\|(1999–2007)}} \| Senator for Borno Central {{small\|(2019–2023)}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"

colspan="5" style="background:{{party color|All Progressives Congress}};" |

APC ticket

Presidential nominee

! Vice Presidential nominee

style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Bola Tinubu

! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Kashim Shettima

File:Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (5980497975) (Cropped).png

| File:Kashim Shettima - Sambisa Forest, 2017.png

Governor of Lagos State
{{small|(1999–2007)}}

| Senator for Borno Central
{{small|(2019–2023)}}

==Labour Party primary==

On 30 May 2022, shortly after former Governor of Anambra State Peter Obi joined the party from the PDP, the Labour Party held its presidential primary in Asaba where Obi was nominated unopposed.{{cite web |title=2023: Obi picks LP presidential ticket |url=https://guardian.ng/news/2023-obi-picks-lp-presidential-ticket/ |website=The Guardian |date=30 May 2022 |publisher=News Agency of Nigeria |access-date=11 June 2022}} On 17 June, the party submitted the name of Doyin Okupe—a physician and former PDP candidate who became the Director-General of the Obi Campaign Organisation—as a placeholder vice presidential nominee to be substituted for someone else at a later date.{{cite web |last1=Aliyu |first1=Abdullateef |title=Running Mate: Like Tinubu, Peter Obi Picks Doyin Okupe As Placeholder |url=https://dailytrust.com/peter-obi-picks-doyin-okupe-as-running-mate |website=Daily Trust |date=17 June 2022 |access-date=17 June 2022}} On 7 July, Okupe formally withdrew as vice presidential nominee and the next day, Obi announced Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed—former Senator for Kaduna North—as his replacement.{{cite web |last1=Adenekan |first1=Samson |title=Okupe withdraws as Peter Obi's running mate |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/541460-okupe-withdraws-as-peter-obis-running-mate.html |website=Premium Times |access-date=7 July 2022}}{{Cite web |title=2023 Elections: Peter Obi Announces Datti Baba-Ahmed As Running Mate |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2022/07/08/2023-elections-peter-obi-announces-datti-baba-ahmed-as-running-mate/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=Channels Television}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
colspan="5" style="background:{{party color\|Labour Party (Nigeria)}};" \| LP ticket
Presidential nominee ! Vice Presidential nominee
style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Peter Obi ! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed
File:Peter Obi.png \|
Governor of Anambra State {{small\|(2006; 2006–2007; 2007–2014)}} \| Senator for Kaduna North {{Small\|(2011–2012)}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"

colspan="5" style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (Nigeria)}};" |

LP ticket

Presidential nominee

! Vice Presidential nominee

style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Peter Obi

! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed

File:Peter Obi.png

Governor of Anambra State
{{small|(2006; 2006–2007; 2007–2014)}}

| Senator for Kaduna North {{Small|(2011–2012)}}

==New Nigeria Peoples Party primary==

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) held its convention and presidential primary election on 8 June 2022 and nominated Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was the sole candidate, as its presidential candidate for the 2023 general election.{{cite news|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-kwankwaso-emerges-nnpp-presidential-candidate|title=BREAKING: Kwankwaso emerges NNPP presidential candidate|author=Noah Banjo|publisher=The Punch|date=8 June 2022|accessdate=17 June 2022}} On 14 July 2022, Kwankwaso picked Isaac Bishop Idahosa as his running mate and vice presidential candidate of the NNPP.{{cite news|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2022/07/14/2023-kwankwaso-picks-idahosa-as-running-mate/|title=2023: Kwankwaso Picks Idahosa As Running Mate|author= Ignatius Igwe|publisher=Channels TV|date=14 July 2022|accessdate=20 August 2022}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
colspan="5" style="background:{{party color\|New Nigeria Peoples Party}};" \| NNPP ticket
Presidential nominee ! Vice Presidential nominee
style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Rabiu Kwankwaso ! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Isaac Idahosa
\| File:3x4.svg
Governor of Kano State {{small\|(1999–2003; 2011–2015)}} \| Bishop of God First Ministry a.k.a. Illumination Assembly {{small\|(1985–present)}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"

colspan="5" style="background:{{party color|New Nigeria Peoples Party}};" |

NNPP ticket

Presidential nominee

! Vice Presidential nominee

style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Rabiu Kwankwaso

! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Isaac Idahosa

| File:3x4.svg

Governor of Kano State
{{small|(1999–2003; 2011–2015)}}

| Bishop of God First Ministry a.k.a. Illumination Assembly
{{small|(1985–present)}}

==People's Democratic Party primary==

{{main|2023 Nigerian presidential election#Peoples Democratic Party}}

In October 2021, newly elected PDP Chairman Iyorchia Ayu backed the indirect primary method of nominating a presidential candidate instead of the direct or consensus methods.{{cite web |last1=Ojiego |first1=Nnamdi |title=Internal democracy will stop defections — Iyorchia Ayu, new PDP Chair |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/internal-democracy-will-stop-defections-iyorchia-ayu-new-pdp-chair/ |website=Vanguard |access-date=11 January 2022}} There was no zoning agreement for the PDP nomination despite calls from politicians and interest groups such as the Southern Governors' Forum to zone the nomination to the South as the APC's Buhari, a Northerner, was elected twice.{{cite web |last1=Fabiyi |first1=Olusola |last2=Alechenu |first2=John |last3=Aworinde |first3=Tobi |last4=Odogun |first4=Gbenga |title=2023: PDP may counter Southern govs on zoning, throw presidential ticket open |url=https://punchng.com/2023-pdp-may-counter-southern-govs-on-zoning-throw-presidential-ticket-open/ |website=The Punch |date=10 July 2021 |access-date=31 July 2021}} The party held its indirect presidential primary on 28 May 2022 in Abuja and nominated Atiku Abubakar—its 2019 nominee and former Vice President.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-17 |title=2023: PDP releases pre-election schedule, fixes presidential primary poll for May 28 |url=https://www.thecable.ng/2023-pdp-releases-pre-election-schedule-fixes-presidential-primary-poll-for-may-28 |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=TheCable |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Atiku Beats Wike, Saraki, Others, Clinches PDP Presidential Ticket |url=https://dailytrust.com/breaking-atiku-wins-pdp-presidential-ticket |website=Daily Trust |date=28 May 2022 |access-date=28 May 2022}} On 16 June, Abubakar selected Governor of Delta State Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.{{cite web |last1=Oyeleke |first1=Sodiq |title=BREAKING: Atiku announces Okowa as running mate |url=https://punchng.com/breaking-atiku-announces-okowa-as-running-mate/ |website=The Punch |date=16 June 2022 |access-date=16 June 2022}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
colspan="5" style="background:{{party color\|Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)}};" \| PDP ticket
Presidential nominee ! Vice Presidential nominee
style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Atiku Abubakar ! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"\| Ifeanyi Okowa
File:Atiku Abubakar-2010 (cropped).jpg \| File:Ifenanyi Okowa.png
Vice President of Nigeria {{small\|(1999–2007)}} \| Governor of Delta State {{small\|(2015–2023)}}

class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"

colspan="5" style="background:{{party color|Peoples Democratic Party (Nigeria)}};" |

PDP ticket

Presidential nominee

! Vice Presidential nominee

style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Atiku Abubakar

! style="width:3em; font-size:135%; width:200px;"| Ifeanyi Okowa

File:Atiku Abubakar-2010 (cropped).jpg

| File:Ifenanyi Okowa.png

Vice President of Nigeria
{{small|(1999–2007)}}

| Governor of Delta State
{{small|(2015–2023)}}

=National Assembly elections=

==Senate elections==

All 109 seats in the Senate of Nigeria was up for election alongside the presidential and House of Representatives elections on 25 February 2023.

==House of Representatives elections==

All 360 seats in the House of Representatives of Nigeria was up for election alongside the presidential and Senate elections on 25 February 2023.

State elections

=Gubernatorial elections=

Elections will hold for the governorships of thirty-one of the 36 states of Nigeria. All but three were held on 11 March 2023, while the Kogi State, Imo State, and Bayelsa State elections were held on 11 November.

=House of Assembly elections=

Elections were held for the House of Assembly of all 36 states of Nigeria on 11 March 2023.

Local elections

At least two statewide local elections were held in 2023:

Abia: The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission called local elections for 28 April.{{cite web |last1=Sampson |first1=Okey |title=Ikpeazu appoints TC chairmen, as ABSIEC sets timetable for LG polls |url=https://www.sunnewsonline.com/ikpeazu-appoints-tc-chairmen-as-absiec-sets-timetable-for-lg-polls/ |website=The Sun |date=7 February 2023 |access-date=19 February 2023}}

Cross River: The Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission called local elections for 24 May.{{cite web |last1=Offiong |first1=Eme |title=Cross River: Commission To Conduct Local Government Poll Next Year |url=https://von.gov.ng/cross-river-commission-to-conduct-local-government-poll-next-year/ |website=Voice of Nigeria |access-date=12 June 2022 |location=Calabar |date=1 June 2022}}

Notes

References

Category:2023 in Nigeria

Nigeria