Collation of results from the 36 states of Nigeria is expected to begin from midday Monday, March 30, the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has announced.

This comes after a party official of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said results of 23 states have already been collated.

“Please, be wary of declaration from people who are clearly partisan,” Inec boss Professor Attahiru Jega said on Sunday, March 29.

Nigeria voted on Saturday in its 5th election since it returned to constitutional rule in 1999. Voting was extended to Sunday in areas where technical challenges were encountered.

Inec is bound by law to declare results 48 hours after voting.

“We will declare results when it has been collated from the states,” Prof Jega said in an address to the nation.

He expressed surprise at the breakdown of card readers at some polling centers, blaming the situation on poorly trained officers.

The elections have been generally described as free and fair especially by international observers though concerns were raised about pockets of violence at some centers.

Though 14 candidates are vying to lead Africa’s largest economy, PDP’s Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and ex-military ruler General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are the leading contenders.

Pundits say the results are close to call.

“We are not under any pressure to declare inconclusive elections,” Inec’s Prof Jega said.