The Nigeria presidential election tribunal has upheld President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's victory, rejecting claims of electoral malpractice by the opposition parties. Tinubu secured 37 percent of the vote, defeating Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Both Abubakar and Obi alleged irregularities, but the court dismissed these claims. A second opposition party petition is also expected to be dismissed. Appeals can be made to the Supreme Court within 60 days.
Despite the ruling in Tinubu's favor, the election had a record-low turnout of 29 percent, with only 8.79 million votes in a nation of over 200 million people. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) introduced biometric technology and a central database for transparency, though there were acknowledged "glitches." Critics raised concerns about vote manipulation due to technical problems and delays.
Nigeria faces economic challenges, with rising living costs after the fuel subsidy program was ended, along with economic issues inherited by Tinubu. Security concerns also persist, including armed groups, intercommunal clashes, and kidnapping gangs.
Tinubu, currently attending the G20 summit in India, aims to attract foreign investment. The ruling, while favorable to him, is unlikely to generate significant momentum.