Major opposition party representatives protested the exercise by leaving the national collation center in Abuja.

The PDP's Dino Melaye and Emeka Ihedioha had accused INEC of breaking the Electoral Act by proceeding with the result collation and announcement even though the results had not yet been uploaded to the iREV portal.

Similar opinions had been expressed by representatives of some other parties, including those of the SDP, LP, and ADP. All of the incensed agents left the location. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, rejected the agents' demand and declared that the protest would go on. The exercise of collation was then carried out by INEC.

After the election, Mr. Melaye spoke to the media and said, "We are not here to rubber stamp the electoral fraud that has been declared by INEC and APC." "INEC is tainted. APC has had an impact on INEC, he claimed.