Nigeria’s new president-elect Buhari hails ‘historic’ election

What you need to know:

  • 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”.
  • But the election could also reverberate well beyond Nigeria and serve as an example for the rest of Africa, where leaders have all too often sought to cling to power at any cost.

ABUJA, WEDNESDAY

Nigeria’s new president-elect Muhammadu Buhari today hailed polls that will lead to the first democratic change of power in Africa’s most populous nation as “historic” hours after he secured a decisive victory.

In official results released early today, Mr Buhari won Nigeria’s presidential election by 2.57 million votes, defeating incumbent Goodluck Jonathan in a triumph greeted by joyous street celebrations.

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”.

But the election could also reverberate well beyond Nigeria and serve as an example for the rest of Africa, where leaders have all too often sought to cling to power at any cost.

Mr Buhari, in an early morning speech at the headquarters of his All Progressives Congress (APC) party in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, declared “we have put one-party state behind us.”

“Our country has now joined the community of nations that have used the ballot box to peacefully change an incumbent president in a free and fair election,” he said. “To me this is indeed historic.”

Mr Buhari will however be closely watched for any return to the authoritarian tendencies that marked his 1980s military regime. He also faces enormous problems, including the Boko Haram insurgency in the north and all-pervasive corruption.

An eventual return to unrest in the oil-producing Niger Delta, relatively calm since a 2009 amnesty, also remains a threat in the continent’s largest oil producer.

But for now, Nigerians rejoiced that they themselves had brought about change through the ballot box. Thousands spilled onto the streets of northern Nigeria’s biggest city, Kano, in celebration, shouting campaign slogan “Sai Buhari” (“Only Buhari”) as he took an unassailable lead with one state to declare.

Many brandished brooms, Buhari’s party symbol, with which they have pledged to sweep away years of government waste and corruption.

In Kaduna, another northern city that was the scene of rioting after the 2011 presidential election, APC supporters chanted: “Change! Change!”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Mr Buhari won with 15,424,921 votes, or 53.95 per cent, of the 28,587,564 total valid ballots cast.

Rival Jonathan, 57, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won 12,853,162 votes (44.96 per cent) in the election held Saturday and Sunday. The election was hit by glitches in new voter technology and claims of irregularities, after being delayed by six weeks due to concerns of attacks by Boko Haram insurgents. Observers however approved of the overall conduct of the vote.

With dissatisfaction rife over Nigeria’s security, corruption and the economy faltering as oil revenues dived, voters turned out in force sensing an unprecedented opportunity for change.

In the financial hub of Lagos, in the southwest, Buhari supporters celebrated wildly, some of them on horseback, with fireworks exploding into the night.

“This is the first democratic change ever in Nigeria,” Anas Galadima told AFP, at APC headquarters, where supporters danced and banged drums.

“It’s not about Muslim or Christian or any party. It’s about politicians knowing that if you don’t do the job, we can kick you out.

“I haven’t been this excited since the night of Barack Obama’s election.”