The spread is very important. In the strongholds of his opponents, Shagari picked up considerable numbers and grabbed second place or a strong third.
Shagari - 12
Awolowo - 6
Azikiwe - 3
Waziri - 3
Aminu Kano - 3

I don't think Awolowo would have been able to win Shagari in a runoff if he had won the case at the Supreme Court.

deekseen:
My observations;

1. Aminu was from Kano and won only in Kano state.
2. Waziri was from Borno and won only in Borno state.
3. Awolowo was from the South West and won the region.
4. Azikiwe won his region, the South East, as well.
5. Shagari won not because of the 90% "not online" Almajiris, but rather because of the votes of the "politically irrelevant" South Southerners and the Middle belt (North Central).

These regions have been neglected or politically dealt with for decades, and like in 1979, the next president will be decided by them.

Exactly. Same pattern that Tinubu emerge. Not because of the numbers from his base(SW) but because he could also take reasonable chunk from his opponent region.

I also observed that SW has become liberal in their voting pattern i.e splitting their votes unlike other regions especially SE that were and still remains conservative ( voting In a single pattern)..

What could be the problem?