Challenger Muham-madu Buhari won Nigeria’s presidential election by 2.57 million votes, official results showed today, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in the first democratic change of power in Africa’s most populous nation.
The victory writes a new chapter in the country’s often turbulent history after six military coups since independence in 1960 and 16 years of unbroken civilian rule by Jonathan’s party. The gripping contest also capped a remarkable transformation for 72-year-old former army general Buhari, who led a tough military regime in the 1980s but now describes himself as a “converted democrat”. Thousands spilled onto the streets shouting campaign slogan “Sai Buhari” (“Only Buhari”) as he took an unassailable lead with one state to declare.