Last Saturday, Nigerians took to the polls to vote their choice presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates into office, after it was postponed from its intial February 16 proposed date.
As a Nigerian, you must have followed the activities of the elections online, so I'll not bore you with too many details. If you didn't, you can still catch up using the #NigeriaDecides and #NigeriaDecides2019 hashtags on social media.
Now, following the election exercise proper, Nigerians were especially interested in the outcome of the presidential race, largely between the All Progressive Congress' Muhammadu Buhari and the Peoples Democratic Party's Atiku Abubakar.
The collation process
Alongside the televised collation process, the Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC) provided social media updates of the result. Find them on the the INEC official Twitter page here.
A few reactions;
Lagos State...
Registered voters; 6,313,507.
Accredited voters; 1,196,490. #NigeriaDecides pic.twitter.com/5j9fsqjHMp— Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (@Ebuka) February 26, 2019
Voting coming from North be like..... #NigeriaDecides2019 #NigeriaDecides pic.twitter.com/1k4Mbqdw23
— Amb.Akanni Seyi🗯 (@HonseyjMr) February 25, 2019
The funniest 2019 Election result in Nigeria is that of Borno State, when I see the figures, I just laugh and laugh again and again #NigeriaDecides2019 #NigeriaDecides2019result #ElectionResults2019
— David Oluwasegun, MON (@davidyusuf7) February 26, 2019
Lord, You said Affliction shall not Rise the Second Time.
Na Your Result we dey Wait oo.#IAmStillWithAtiku#NigeriaDecides2019#BuhariHasWon pic.twitter.com/S0DKKLAnGD— Chorchboy ⚪ (@chorchboy) February 26, 2019
The three Kardashian sisters of the north
Also known as the states with the highest number of voters. Coincidentally, their names the letter k, just like the famous Kardashian sisters.
https://twitter.com/Ekwulu3/status/1100078184761098240
Apc waiting for The kardashians( Kano, kaduna, katsina) to come through like #ElectionResults2019 #NigeriaDecides #2019TooBigToRig #APCAndPDP https://t.co/jbKfPlTLG7 pic.twitter.com/QUEHKCrwEh
— AbdulHafiz👻👣 (@Varlar_Morgulis) February 25, 2019
Kano and katsina warming up like...#NigeriaDecides pic.twitter.com/ozHqbpptt4
— Ibbi (@Ibyxxx_) February 25, 2019
And the Kardashians(KKK) have delivered. Church haff finished, God bless the sermon.....Amen.
4 years of........(complete by yourself) 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄#NigeriaDecides2019 #NigeriaDecides— Pearl #NucleusMovie (@pearlxela12345) February 26, 2019
President Buhari was declared the winner
That Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected. #NigeriaDecides2019Result pic.twitter.com/oz89PAz1QM
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) February 27, 2019
Reactions;
Congratulations to @MBuhari on his re-election. A stable and prosperous Nigeria will benefit us all and we will remain your true friend as you pursue a stronger economy and democracy #NigeriaDecides2019
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) February 27, 2019
Nigerians like suffering sincerely #NigeriaDecides2019 #NigeriaDecides2019result #NigeriaDecides
— David Oluwasegun, MON (@davidyusuf7) February 25, 2019
All hail the king of the Northern states#NigeriaDecides2019#Nigeria pic.twitter.com/7Xn5yxoq5N
— Candid (@amcandid) February 28, 2019
Nigeria is the world largest producer of 'rigged elections'. #NigeriaDecides2019 on my mind.
— Tunde Dada (@Tunnydad) March 1, 2019
Atiku to challenge the election result in court
Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) February 27, 2019
Reactions;
Really Atiku has a chance to be a well respected Statesman with his sins washed off. Going to court would only make him Atiku
— Olukayode bakre (@kayodebakre8) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/EmekaGift/status/1101068967651827713
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm going to support Atiku if he goes to court.
— mogwai. (@TheVunderkind) February 27, 2019
Atiku taking the matter to Court is like reporting your Last born to your parents
Noting will happenKwaruption everywhere
— Roviel 😏 (@ObongRoviel) February 27, 2019
Other reactions
https://twitter.com/JohnAshbourne/status/1100699703170252800
Pictures of the President and Vice President receiving their certificates of return;
https://twitter.com/SubDeliveryZone/status/1100765283076182022
Alongside reactions to Nigeria's general elections, other interesting events occured on social media during the course of this week. Read about a few of them below.
Kevin Hart discovered Eli
This is probably the best news to come out of social media this week. It all started when Eli Waduba Yusuf, a Kaduna-based hyperrealism pencil artist posted a drawing of famous American comedian and actor Kevin Hart on Twitter.
In the tweet (below), he pleaded with fellow tweeps to help him get the American's attention.
My name is Eli Waduba Yusuf
Am a Nigerian, based in kaduna. Am a hyperrealism PENCIL Artist, I hope to become like @Harinzeyart. Please Retweet, let @KevinHart4real see it, thank you pic.twitter.com/oYYUQxbK5e— Eli Waduba (@EliWaduba) February 25, 2019
Kevin eventually saw it and he replied;
I see it and I want to purchase it...I also want to support you and your amazing talent by giving you a fee to do a pencil drawing of 3 of my celebrity friends that I can gift it to. DM your info and let’s get to work! https://t.co/ImOYa0UNlL
— Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) February 27, 2019
Reactions;
https://twitter.com/Marapolsa/status/1100837100797218816
This potential happily ever after that Jah has used Kevin Hart to grant our talented pencil artist, Eli Waduba, means one thing.
Make love more often with your God-given talents than your make-look-literate academic degrees. The former is ruling the world, dears!
— Roké (@chimarokay) February 28, 2019
This is amazing... @KevinHart4real thank you on behalf of Eli. God bless you more! https://t.co/1kMv49Kdwk
— AYeniYeniYaN🇳🇬 (@bebonacci) February 28, 2019
Eli Waduba-Kevin Hart's story is inspiring. Just keep doing what you know how to do best. Never give up! #EliWaduba #KevinHart
— Olusegun Iselaiye (@iotama22) February 28, 2019
Nigerian celebrities, are you seeing your mate?
https://twitter.com/gucchijones/status/1101114322368061440
Kevin Hart has 35million followers on Twitter
+
An average of 5million mentions everydayBut still saw the art in his mention and asked for more info
Yet some celebrities with less followers will be forming Billionaires and be ignoring their mentions😒
— Master Victor🔨 (@DaddyTheBoy) February 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/Drey_Lo/status/1100837169319550977
Kevin Hart noticed that guy that drew him and I'm here still waiting for Cuppy to come and claim her pregnancy I have for her, this life ehn 😥💔
— Sir UGLIعST III • 🥤† (@skizyman) February 27, 2019
Nigerians being Nigerians
Good Morning.
Your Kevin Hart will locate you today IJN 🙏🙏🙏— Tolu (@Tolumhen) February 28, 2019
Even if my own Kevin Hart wants to locate me, what talent do I have l? pic.twitter.com/wlqadwOuEK
— A.M.✨ (@Aeeshamoh) February 28, 2019
please i draw also, I'm a biro sketcher .....help Rt so my kevin hart will find me....... pic.twitter.com/ZfUKwafiCP
— omoboriola😘 (@urdaddysluv) February 27, 2019
May your Kevin Hart locate you this new Month we are going in. Amen
— Dantifuudgirl (@DantiLicious) February 28, 2019
Others inspired by Eli
Y’all please RT oooh let @wizkidayo And @BankyW see it and maybe they will pull a Kevin hart on my life
Please RETWEET 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/0Sf9hvFq3d
— ChrisHazeArt.eth #MUFC 🔴🔥 (@PrinceChrisMUFC) February 27, 2019
Great work well done Eli, I'm also a Nigerian.. Seeing this, tells me to never give up...Now, My Hope is so High....
Thank you so much kevin...you are our hero pic.twitter.com/iWuhIv17h9— Lolú Vent #endBaD governance..🇳🇬 (@lolu_vent) February 28, 2019
Other reactions
Everybody is happy for the Nigerian that Kevin Hart acknowledged and has given him a platform to shine..
This is a lesson to the rest of us (Me included), talent will take you places that savage replies and trolls won't take you.
— IFEANYI (@JustECP) February 27, 2019
If not for Twitter, would Kevin Hart had seen the pencil portrait? NO
Use your Twitter for your own success!!!!
— Master Victor🔨 (@DaddyTheBoy) February 27, 2019
I hope Kevin Hart does not have any crew member called Lati?
— demi.smol (@demithacreator) February 28, 2019
Read more here.
Dangote is now the 64th richest man in the world
Aliko Dangote, Nigeria and Africa's richest man is now according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the 64th richest man in the world. Dangote apparently jumped 39 positions from his 103rd position last year.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who was previously ranked 103rd in the world, is now the world’s 64th richest person.https://t.co/Ov1dr6fqOR#Dangote #AlikoDangote #Nigeria
— The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) February 28, 2019
Dangote's rise to the 64th position was triggered within a 24 hour period as he reportedly gained $5.58 billion on Monday this week, in addition to the $9.63 billion recorded on January 1, 2019.
This pegged the billionaire's net worth at $16.6 billion on Tuesday.
Reactions
God, when?
So Aliko Dangote made over $5b in one day... And I'm here struggling to make $10 today..
Oh God of Dangote!! 😁 pic.twitter.com/eZKeYhsRDC— King_Ene 👑 🇳🇬 (@eneowaji) February 28, 2019
Father Lord, we see what you've done for our brother, Aliko Dangote. DO THE SAME FOR US, LORD! 🙌😭 pic.twitter.com/mrUX7fEQUs
— Zikoko (@zikokomag) February 28, 2019
Shey Aliko Dangote is the first person to start enjoying #NextLevel. When will my own come? pic.twitter.com/YZEZZqsDkA
— Mafeng Samuels (@JorgeMafeng) February 28, 2019
Aliko Dangote is the 64th richest man in the world.
He has started experiencing his next level. pic.twitter.com/G7lHt4ufYs
— Joyceey #SagaLite ♥️ 💡 (@joyceeycares) February 28, 2019
These
Nigerian politicians when they hear Aliko Dangote is the richest man in Nigeria, Africa. pic.twitter.com/vEVzIXRNi4
— Olajide O. (@LajideOluwaseun) February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/Brodah_Ayo/status/1101112802415165440
Motivational speaker be like aliko dangote made 5 billion dollars in 24 hrs and moved from 103rd to 64th worlds richest man.. if you can think it you can achieve it .. awon weyrey pic.twitter.com/zavOe4M2KU
— kingkimono (@eccrrine) February 28, 2019
Other reactions
So You People Will Just Celebrate Aliko Dangote's Rise To 64th In The World When 5 Years Ago He Was The 23rd. Y'all Better Open Your Eyes & Discover That Things Are Not Where It Used To Be.
— viviii (@justvivii) February 28, 2019
Alhaji ALIKO DANGOTE is a Nigerian who grew up in Nigeria. He's the Richest Man in Nigeria and 63rd Richest Man in the World. He still Lives in Nigeria, and yet he's making Millions. You are in Nigeria and you are Complaining that there is No money. Please open your eyes well. pic.twitter.com/TRVmLJKQtU
— :david! (@David1doT) February 28, 2019
https://twitter.com/El_tiger_29111/status/1101037025606750209
https://twitter.com/r3al____AJ/status/1101034730164752384
Read more here.
Ghana gets a new "Minister of State at the Office of the President"
Yesterday February 28, the Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo did a cabinet reshuffle, reassigning a few of his ministers.
.@NAkufoAddo reshuffles ministers; Afeku reassigned | More here: https://t.co/fMlbonOJXB #CitiNewsroom
— CitiNewsroom (@Citi973) February 28, 2019
Former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Catherine Afeku's reassignment stood out because she was reassigned to the role of Minister of State at the Office of the President, a demotion according to many Ghanaians' reactions.
Catherine Afeku reassigned from Minister of Tourism to Office of the President. New Minister is Barbara Oteng. #yearofreturn pic.twitter.com/9vBpWp13DW
— #BlackLivesMatter www.msbwrites.co.uk (@MisBeee) February 28, 2019
Reactions
Catherine Afeku is now Minister of State at the Office of the Senior Minister
Where she will become a secretary to the Senior Minister
— Leevai (@SCHBWOY) February 28, 2019
So we now have Catherine Afeku as the deputy minister for Senior minister in effect. Smh @NAkufoAddo is confused. #Site15
— JJ Gyasi Mensah (@jj_gyasimensah) March 1, 2019
Catherine Afeku is now Minister of State at the Office of the Senior Minister.
Can someone explain this new appointment to me?
— michel (@themichnkansah) February 28, 2019
Of all the minsters reshuffled, Catherine Afeku’s movement denotes a demotion for me.From a cabinet minister to a minister of state at the office of the Senior Minister. ☹️
Ei! Portfolios dey Ghana oooo.
— Emmanuel Badger (@niibadger) February 28, 2019
No, not Catherine
Catherine Afeku, when we thought she was doing well, she has been reshuffled. Mr. President you are listening to unnecessary criticism too much.
— Nana Sarfo Bawumia (@sarfo_Krobea) February 28, 2019
Buh Catherine Afeku too was doing quite well oo, her new position dey kill me. Minister of state at the office of the senior minister. What is that ? 😂😂😂
— ឵឵឵ ឵឵឵ Sekunde💭𓋹🇬🇭 (@Kofi_Phanteboi) February 28, 2019
For once I thought our Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was getting somewhere with Catherine Afeku. This reshuffling is basically not needed. Quite disappointed!
— X-Ghanaian (@GeorgeSalia_) February 28, 2019
Truth be told Mad. Catherine Afeku was very competent, I still don't get it why she was reassigned to another portfolio.
I wish her all the best in her new portfolio.— Ray Wilson Enyeminko (@EnyeminkoRay) February 28, 2019
Other reactions
Ah ah ah you people say Catherine Afeku Dey go understudy Osafo Maafo ?
— Mr Nutakor (@ManlikeTakor) March 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/SenaAffadu/status/1101341282889273344
One of the best decisions of Prez Nana Addo is removing Catherine Afeku from Tourism.
We have paid her salaries for what?
All these ministers, they should never think they are free.
When Ghana become truly saved, we will bring them back to the courts 4 wasting tax.
Geez.🙏
— The Ghanaian (@FontonfromC) February 28, 2019
So now Catherine Afeku is basically Osafo Marfo’s secretary? Hahahahahahahah ajei!
— Mimi Andani-Michaels (@mimiandanigh) February 28, 2019
Read more reactions here.
