Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari was on Tuesday re-elected Nigeria’s president, after a delayed poll that angered voters and raised political temperatures, leading to claims of rigging and collusion. Buhari, 76, took an unassailable lead with almost in 19 states surpassing his counterpart Atiku who won 17 states denying him chance to become president.
The former military ruler was first elected as civilian president of Africa’s most populous nation and leading oil producer in 2015. Supporters of Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) had gathered to celebrate at his campaign headquarters in the capital, Abuja.
Initial results showed Buhari won 15,191,847 votes (56 percent) while Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 11,262,978 votes (41 percent). Buhari won in 19 states including the two most populous, Lagos and Kano — while Abubakar was victorious in 17 states and the FCT.
There was no immediate official concession from Abubakar, whose party had earlier called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to halt the count, citing irregularities.