Key takeaways:
- Bola Tinubu has been declared president-elect of Nigeria
- The election has been disputed by the two leading opposition candidates
- The election was marred by reports of violence and irregularities
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) – Nigeria’s ruling party candidate, Bola Tinubu, has been declared president-elect of Africa’s most populous nation following a weekend election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that Tinubu had won 8.79 million votes, ahead of main opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar’s 6.98 million votes.
Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos state, is set to take over leadership of a country grappling with a number of issues, including Islamist insurgencies in the northeast, armed attacks, killings and kidnappings, conflict between livestock herders and farmers, cash, fuel and power shortages, and perennial corruption.
The election has been disputed by the two leading opposition candidates, who have already demanded a re-vote. However, Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress party celebrated the victory at the party’s campaign headquarters in Abuja.
The election was the fifth since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999. It was the first time since then that an incumbent president had not sought re-election, as President Muhammadu Buhari had reached the end of his two-term limit.
The election was marred by reports of violence and irregularities, including the disruption of voting in some areas due to insecurity and the late delivery of voting materials in others. The INEC has said it will investigate the allegations and take appropriate action.
The results of the election will be officially announced after the INEC has concluded its investigations. In the meantime, Tinubu will be sworn in as Nigeria’s new president on May 29.
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