Politics
BBC Exposes Election Discrepancies In Rivers State Presidential Election Result
An investigation conducted by the BBC has revealed potential indications of manipulation in Nigeria’s presidential election results.
Bola Tinubu, the declared winner, is scheduled to be inaugurated on 29 May; however, the opposition is contesting this outcome.
The BBC’s findings have identified notable irregularities in Rivers state, a crucial contested region, although these irregularities are not substantial enough to alter the overall national result of the election that occurred in February.
Additionally, concerns have arisen regarding the identity of an election official who announced certain unexplained results.
According to BBC, After meticulously analyzing the voting tally sheets from more than 6,000 polling stations in Rivers state, where numerous complaints from the opposition were concentrated, a discrepancy has emerged.
They alleged that the official results in this particular state indicated a decisive majority in favor of Bola Tinubu from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, upon their own calculations, it appears that Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) had garnered the highest number of votes in the state, surpassing Tinubu by a significant margin.
The investigation has alleged that there was a notable increase of approximately 106,000 votes in Mr. Tinubu’s official declaration compared to the tally obtained from our polling station analysis.
This increase nearly doubled his overall vote count in the state. Conversely, Mr. Obi’s vote count had decreased by over 50,000 in comparison.
They emphasized that despite conducting a thorough search on the election website for all 6,866 polling stations in Rivers state, complete results were not obtainable. Some results were incorrectly uploaded or missing even after a month had passed since the polling date.
Additionally, for approximately 5% of the polling stations, the photos of the tally sheets were too blurry to decipher according to the investigation.
Furthermore, the investigation uncovered that in an additional 17% of polling stations, no results were available at all. This could be attributed to various reasons, such as security concerns or the failure of voting materials to arrive. Technical difficulties also hindered officials from uploading the required documents.
It is evident that the final official results would have included more polling stations than those considered in the BBC investigation.
However, these additional tally sheets would have increased the vote totals for each party, rather than decreasing them.
Surprisingly, the investigation revealed that there was a significant decline in votes for Peter Obi’s Labour Party in Rivers state as indicated by the official result.
The question remains: How can the sharp decrease in Peter Obi’s votes, as reflected in the official result, be explained given the circumstances?
Two specific areas drew notable attention during the investigation. The first was the Oyigbo local government area where the officially announced results indicated that Bola Tinubu’s vote count was six times higher compared to the BBC’s tally from the polling stations and In contrast, Peter Obi’s votes had been reduced by half according to the official results.
The second local government area that the BBC investigation identified as having major discrepancies was Obio/Akpor, located in close proximity to Oyigbo. The investigation revealed that the official result for Mr. Tinubu showed a vote count of 80,239, while the BBC counted just 17,293 votes from the polling station tallies.
Conversely, the official count for Mr. Obi was only 3,829 votes, whereas the BBC’s tally sheets indicated a staggering 74,033 votes for him.
According to the BBC, all the polling station sheets were collated at the local government (LGA) headquarters.
During the investigation, the BBC team discovered an official election document that contained the collated votes for the Oyigbo area.
The document was signed by an election official and several party agents, indicating its authenticity and credibility.
According to the investigation, Multiple photographs of the document were taken and shared on various social media accounts. The numbers recorded in this document closely aligned with the BBC’s own tallies for the two leading candidates, Obi and Tinubu.
It further States that the document was likely one of the 23 collation sheets from the local government areas (LGAs) in Rivers state, which were taken to the state capital, Port Harcourt, for the official declaration of results.
According to them, The official announcement took place on 27 February and was broadcast live on television.
Dr. Dickson Ariaga, the election official from Oyigbo, introduced himself and stated that he worked for the Federal College of Education in Omoku.
Although the word “Omoku” on the recording is unclear, it is important to mention that there is only one Federal College of Education in Rivers state.
Dr. Ariaga proceeded to read out the results for each party in alphabetical order, including the smaller parties. This recording provides additional evidence regarding the announcement of the results in Oyigbo.
During the live announcement, according to BBC, it was observed that the numbers mentioned by Dr. Ariaga did not align with the figures recorded on the collation sheet obtained by the BBC.
Specifically, when he reached Mr. Tinubu’s APC, instead of stating the figure of 2,731 as seen in the photograph of the sheet, he announced a significantly higher number of “16,630.” Similarly, for Mr. Obi’s party (LP), the announced figure differed from the number on the sheet.
Instead of the recorded 22,289 votes, Dr. Ariaga declared “10,784,” which resulted in more than halving Obi’s vote count.
Despite the BBC’s efforts to obtain further information and clarification, the electoral commission declined to provide the details of Dr. Ariaga or facilitate an interview with him on the matter.
However, the BBC managed to speak with the election official who was seated next to Dr. Ariaga during the announcement. Unfortunately, she stated that she was not authorized to speak to the press.
To gather more information, a reporter from the BBC was sent to the Federal College of Education in Omoku, located approximately two hours north of Port Harcourt, where Dr. Ariaga claimed to work during his introduction. The Deputy Provost, Moses Ekpa, was interviewed by the BBC.
He stated that based on their records, including payroll and human resources, there is no individual by the name of Dr. Ariaga in their system, and they have no knowledge of such a person being associated with the institution.
He said “From our records, both from our payroll and from our human resources, there is no such a name in our system and we don’t know such a person.”
In an attempt to track down Dr. Ariaga, the BBC conducted a search on social media platforms and came across another Facebook account bearing the name Dickson Ariaga, which listed Port Harcourt as the location.
To verify the connection, the BBC utilized Amazon Rekognition software to compare an image from this account with television footage of Dr. Ariaga. The software indicated a match of 97.2%, suggesting a high probability that they are the same individual.
Despite attempts to contact Dr. Ariaga through this Facebook account, he did not respond to the messages sent by the BBC. However, the BBC managed to reach out to some of his Facebook friends in an effort to gather more information.
Eventually, they were able to speak to a man who claimed to be a relative of Dr. Ariaga. Initially, he expressed willingness to assist the BBC, but later on, he did not return their calls, leaving the investigation with unresolved leads.
Upon presenting these findings to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the BBC received a response from Johnson Sinikiem, Inec’s regional spokesman in Port Harcourt. Sinikiem explained that due to a “gross shortage of time and personnel,” there were instances where individuals were employed without proper verification of their identity documents.
Regarding Dr. Ariaga specifically, Sinikiem acknowledged that if Ariaga had presented himself as a lecturer from the college in Omoku, but it turned out to be false, then he would be considered dishonest.
He said “If he had presented himself as a lecturer from [the college in Omoku] and it’s otherwise, then he is dishonest.”
In addition to seeking a response from Inec’s regional spokesperson, the BBC also approached Inec’s headquarters in Abuja regarding the discrepancies found in the results in Rivers state. However, the response received was that they were unable to comment on the matter due to ongoing legal challenges.
The case highlighted by the BBC investigation in Rivers state is just one example that raises concerns about potential manipulation of election results.
However, the search for Dr. Ariaga continues as the BBC awaits his response to the findings presented in their report. Obtaining his perspective and clarifications could provide valuable insights and contribute to a better understanding of the situation.
@BBC News (World)
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly pressuring hotels in Abuja to deny the opposition party access to their facilities, describing the development as an attempt to undermine democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party raised the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director on Thursday, who expressed concern over what it described as increasing attempts to restrict the democratic space and silence opposition voices.
According to the NDC, it has faced not only alleged violent attacks by agents of the ruling APC but also discrimination from hotels and hospitality businesses in Abuja.
SEE ALSO: Two Suspected Political Thugs Killed After Attacking NDC Candidate’s Convoy in Ebonyi
The party specifically accused Rockview Hotel of cancelling agreements to provide facilities for its meetings on two separate occasions.
The first incident, according to the statement, occurred in June 2026 when the hotel allegedly withdrew its agreement to host the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting shortly before the scheduled event.
The NDC claimed that the hotel recently rejected another request to use its facilities for a meeting, allegedly informing the party that the decision came through an “order from above.”
The party also accused BON Hotel in Wuse, Abuja, of refusing to provide its facilities for a meeting despite the NDC claiming it had fulfilled all the conditions required.
The statement further alleged that the unveiling of the party’s National Campaign Council (NCC) was nearly disrupted after its event venue initially asked the party to refund its payment, saying it was no longer interested in making its facilities available.
The NDC suggested that the decision might have resulted from alleged threats or instructions from influential quarters.
However, the party said its insistence on using the facility after making payment eventually compelled the hotel to honour the arrangement.
Describing the alleged incidents as a threat to democratic participation, the NDC called on the APC to allow opposition parties to operate freely and campaign without interference.
“This is not democracy. The APC should allow all parties to campaign without let or hindrance, and give Nigerians the opportunity to make their choice on who governs them,” the statement said.
The party also urged Nigerians and supporters of democracy to call out Rockview Hotel and BON Hotel over what it described as their “anti-people and anti-democratic actions.”
Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the NDC declared that Nigerians deserved better governance and insisted that it was prepared to serve with passion and patriotism.
“Nigerians deserve better, and NDC is prepared to serve with passion and patriotism,” the statement added.
The party concluded with its declaration that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating moves to weaken the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and frustrate his 2027 presidential ambition following a court judgment against the party’s leadership.
Atiku described the development as a calculated attempt to undermine the ADC, insisting that the timing of the judgment, which came barely a day after his campaign rally in Sokoto, was suspicious.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku said the ruling party was unsettled by the growing support for his candidacy.
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The Federal High Court in Abuja had on Thursday, November 5, 2026, delivered a judgment affecting the leadership of the David Mark-led ADC, nullifying the party’s leadership structure and raising questions over the legitimacy of Atiku’s presidential candidacy.
Reacting to the ruling, Atiku alleged that the development was part of a broader strategy to weaken his political support, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and frustrate the ADC’s growing campaign.
“The timing of this judgment is no coincidence. It is part of a strategy to weaken my support in the North and frustrate a campaign whose message is resonating across the country,” he said.
He, however, maintained that his political ambition was not limited to Northern Nigeria, arguing that the economic hardship facing Nigerians cuts across regional boundaries.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North,” Atiku stated.
The former vice president also linked the judgment to the massive turnout at the ADC presidential campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday, November 4, where supporters gathered to welcome him.
He said the reception demonstrated Nigerians’ desire for political change and confidence in the ADC’s promise to make life more affordable.
“What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” he added.
Atiku also questioned the legal basis for reopening the dispute over the ADC leadership, recalling that Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court had earlier dismissed a challenge to the David Mark-led leadership in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to him, the earlier judgment upheld the defendants’ objections on jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies, while resolving the substantive issues in their favour.
He questioned why another case was subsequently filed to reopen the same dispute, describing it as an attempt to circumvent an existing court judgment.
Atiku said the ADC would challenge the latest ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he declared.
Despite the legal setback, the ADC presidential candidate urged party supporters to remain calm, peaceful and committed to the campaign, insisting that the development would not derail the party’s political activities.
He said the ADC campaign train was already in Kebbi State and would continue its nationwide mobilisation.
“Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” Atiku said.
He also urged supporters to take the party’s message to Nigerians through house-to-house and door-to-door mobilisation, adding that the campaign remained focused on rescuing the country from economic hardship.
“There is no shaking,” he declared.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria’s economy has been fixed, insisting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has overcome the difficult phase of its economic reforms.
Shettima made the declaration on Wednesday during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where he appealed to Nigerians to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general elections.
According to the Vice President, the administration inherited an economy burdened by fiscal challenges, infrastructure deficits and weakened investor confidence, necessitating difficult but unavoidable reforms.
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“We inherited an economy burdened by fiscal pressure. We inherited a country with an infrastructure deficit. We inherited a country with weakened investor confidence and structural defects. These problems demanded decisions that no responsible government could postpone. But I come to you to assure you that the worst days are over. We have already fixed our economy,” he said.
Shettima maintained that the government’s economic reforms had strengthened public finances, improved revenue generation and restored investor confidence, while providing additional resources for state governments to pursue development projects.
He said the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was designed to encourage domestic production, improve economic opportunities and address structural challenges affecting the country.
The Vice President also defended the government’s infrastructure programme, highlighting major road projects, including the Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe–Biu–Maiduguri Superhighway, the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway.
According to him, the projects will strengthen connections between agricultural and industrial production centres and markets, reduce transportation costs, facilitate trade and create employment opportunities.
Shettima noted that Nasarawa State stands to benefit from improved infrastructure and investments in its agricultural and mineral resources.
He also highlighted the Federal Government’s support for higher education through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), noting that students from the state have access to financing under the scheme.
The Vice President further recalled President Tinubu’s approval for the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, into the Federal University of Mining, Engineering and Technology, describing it as an investment in the technical manpower required to develop Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Acknowledging the economic difficulties experienced by Nigerians, Shettima said the government was conscious of the sacrifices associated with its reforms and remained committed to translating their gains into improved living conditions.
He urged Nigerians to give Tinubu another four-year mandate to complete the administration’s development programmes.
“We have promised to connect producers and markets. We have promised to ease movement across regions. We have promised to generate employment. We have promised to diminish costs that burden traders and families. This is what we are doing, and we have come to ask for your support for another term to complete this mission,” he stated.
Shettima also urged APC supporters to reject electoral violence and embrace peaceful political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.
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