Bola Tinubu was declared the winner of the February 25 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi. The electoral commission stated that Tinubu won after polling 8,794,726 votes, with Abubakar in second place with 6,984,520 votes, Obi in third place with 6,101,533 votes, and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in fourth place with 1,496,687 votes.
Afenifere criticised the INEC for non-compliance with its mandatory guidelines during the exercise, which it claimed encouraged "electoral brigandage" at the polling units. The group called on Nigerians to participate fully in the next weekend's gubernatorial and houses of assembly elections and requested that the international community show special concern in the ongoing electioneering process in the country in the interest of global peace.
Afenifere also called on the INEC to ensure free and credible gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in accordance with the constitution, the extant Electoral Act, and its mandatory guidelines. The group asked President Muhammadu Buhari and all security agents to guarantee the safety of the people for free, fair, and peaceful elections throughout the country.
Peter Obi has since gone to court to seek redress, with his party seeking the permission of the court to allow him to inspect the election materials used by INEC on February 25 poll. In the communique, Afenifere also endorsed the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and urged the people of Lagos to vote for him.