The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, would most likely meet the constitutional requirement of 25 per cent of total votes cast in 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This is based on the results so far released at the state collation centres of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is trailing.
Section 134 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution requires the candidate in a presidential race to get at least 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the states in order to be declared winner.
An analysis of the results trickling in so far showed that Tinubu will get 25 per cent in at least 17 of the 19 northern states.
He is however likely to have issues in Taraba and Plateau states.
The Asiwaju will get 25 per cent in all the six states in the South West.
In the South East, he might not get the required 25 per cent in all the five states.
However, he is likely to meet the 25 per cent threshold in Edo (South South) and the FCT, thereby giving him one state above the required 24 states to win the presidency.
Atiku is likely to get the 25 per cent requirement in 17 states in the North with the exception of Kano and Benue based on results released in the states so far.
He is also likely to get the required 25 per cent in five of the six states in the South West with the exception of Lagos.
In the South East, like Tinubu, Atiku might not meet the requirement in the five states of the zone.
Analysis shows that he might get the 25 per cent requirement in Edo and Delta states in the South South in addition to the FCT, giving him the total of 24 states required.
Peter Obi will get the required 25 per cent in the 11 states of the South East and South South, as well as in the North Central states of Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau.
He is also expected to get 25 per cent in Adamawa and Taraba in North East; in addition to Lagos and FCT to end up with 18 states as he might not make any headway in the North West.
However, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is not expected to win in any other state apart from Kano.
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