April 23, 2007: Shortly after President Olusegun Obasanjo admitted that the April 14 and 21 elections were marred by what he called "mistakes," Professor Maurice Iwu, Chief Returning Officer and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, announced that Katsina State Governor and ruling party candidate Umaru Yar'Adua won with 24.6 million votes, far ahead of his two main rivals. "Umaru Yar'Adua is hereby declared the winner," he said.
- Earlier, the European Union had said the election was undemocratic and not credible.
- The United States White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe came out later, with strong statements, saying the that it was "deeply troubled" by violence and irregularities in Nigeria's elections, which a senior official said were "clearly" flawed.
- In his nationwide television address, President Obasanjo cited violence and theft of ballot boxes as evidence of mistake in the electoral process. However, he implied that corrections would be made in the next election after four years. That meant that this election would be upheld.
- With President Obasanjo's man in clear lead, it is highly unlikely that he could consider calling offthe election.
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