Despite plenty of talk about vote manipulation, the incumbent Muhammadu Buharu has surged ahead in the polls.
The latest from the populous African nation shows that Buhari has claimed victory in 7 of Nigeria’s 36 states. Following closely is his close rival, Atiku Abubakar who’s successfully captured the votes in 2 states and the capital Abuja.
As results came in thick and fast, Mr. Abubakar’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that there had been irregularities in the vote.
Party chair Uche Secondus called the count “incorrect and unacceptable”.
He said there had been an “attempt by the government and other agencies to manipulate the result”, but did not give any evidence.
The EU, US, and the African Union have all expressed concern about delays and logistical problems with voting on Saturday, but no independent observers have suggested fraud.
Mr Buhari, a member of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party, is seeking re-election but faces a strong challenge from Mr Abubakar.
Each party says the other is working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) to influence the vote, which was initially scheduled for 16 February but delayed at the last minute.
Mr Buhari has promised to build on his accomplishments in office so far, while Mr Abubakar, a business tycoon, has accused the president of wasting his term.
Whoever wins in Africa’s most populous nation and
A slow recovery from a recession in 2016 means there are not enough jobs for the large number of young people joining the employment market. About a quarter of the working age population is unemployed.
Mr Buhari has quelled a militant Islamist rebellion in Nigeria’s north-east, but Boko Haram remains active. There has also been an upsurge in violence in the country’s Middle Belt as traditional herders and more settled farmers have clashed.
Until 1999 Nigeria was governed by either short-lived civilian administrations or military rulers. But this year marks 20 years since the return of democracy.
Mr Buhari was elected in 2015 – the first time an opposition candidate had defeated an incumbent to become president.