Muhammadu Buhari claims poll victory in Nigeria as opposition cries foul

Nigeria’s main opposition on Tuesday claimed victory in the country’s tense general election as former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari pulled ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan in the vote count. If confirmed, it would be the first democratic change of power in the history of Africa’s most populous country. The PDP and the APC on Sunday traded allegations of vote rigging and other irregularities, raising the possibility of a legal challenge to the results.

As I speak with you now I have not received anything from the secretary to the commission. That is with regards to the issue of the so called petition.

Professor Attahiru Jega

With 32 out of 37 results in, Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) had won 19 states with Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on 12 plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. The vote pitting Jonathan against Buhari was the closest election contest ever in Africa’s biggest economy which has a population of 173 million, but Buhari has been buoyed by a faltering economy and Jonathan’s handling of Boko Haram.

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