Mark Essien Releases Live API for Nigeria 2023 Election Data
Nigerian entrepreneur Mark Essien launches a public API for 2023 election results with INEC validation links. The tool remains a work in progress.
Mark Essien released a live API for all of Nigeria’s 2023 election results on 25 February. The API provides structured access to presidential and other contest data with direct links to INEC source sheets.
The API endpoint returns results alongside validation URLs to the official INEC sheets. An example page demonstrates the data structure and query format.
Essien stated the product remains under active development. He indicated further improvements will be added over time. The API currently covers the presidential election held on 25 February 2023 and the governorship elections conducted on 11 March 2023.
BBC live coverage used INEC data to report Bola Tinubu’s victory with 37 percent of the vote. Wikipedia documented widespread disputes over result uploads to the INEC portal and claims that uploads were delayed or withheld in certain areas. Opposition parties alleged rigging during the contentious counting process.
The 2023 elections followed a pattern of institutional data gaps that civic developers have sought to address. Mark Essien, founder of Hotels.ng, published the API independently without a stated formal partnership with INEC. No regulatory endorsement appears in public records.
Independent data access supports media outlets, civic groups, and analysts who build verification tools. The release occurs against the backdrop of delayed INEC portal uploads that fueled public distrust. Developers can now query structured results while cross-checking against the linked official sheets.
Media organizations gain faster access to machine-readable data for live dashboards. Civic-tech projects can create public-interest applications that compare reported figures with INEC originals. Analysts obtain a single endpoint for longitudinal study of both presidential and subnational contests.
Opposition parties and transparency advocates receive an additional channel for independent scrutiny. Institutions that previously controlled result dissemination face greater external visibility. The absence of an official API from INEC leaves room for private initiatives to fill the gap.
The API for all of Nigeria 2023 elections is now live.
The API contains a link to the INEC sheet for validation. Essien noted the project will continue to evolve with additional features and refinements. Observers should monitor updates to the endpoint and any new validation fields that appear in coming weeks.
