A **presidential runoff** in Nigeria is a second round of voting held when no single candidate meets the specific winning criteria during the initial election.
To win in the first round, a candidate must meet two conditions:
1. Secure the **highest number of total votes** cast.
2. Achieve the "spread"—winning at least **25% of the votes in at least 24 of the 36 states** (plus the Federal Capital Territory).
If no candidate satisfies both conditions, a runoff is conducted within **21 days**. Only **two candidates** will appear on the runoff ballot:
* **Candidate A:** The candidate who received the highest number of votes overall in the first round.
* **Candidate B:** The candidate among the *remaining* pool who won a **majority of votes in the highest number of states**.
If there is a tie for the second slot based on the number of states won, the candidate with the **highest total number of votes** among those tied is selected. Because of this specific criteria, the person who came "second" in total votes during the first round may not necessarily make it to the runoff.
The final winner of the runoff is determined by a **simple majority**; the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of state spread. This entire process is designed to ensure the President-elect has broad **"National Acceptance"** across Nigeria's diverse regions.
