INEC declares Buhari winner of Nigeria’s 2019 election

Nigeria's President Mohammad Buhari has secured victory in the country's 2019 presidential election, polling 15.2 million votes to defeat his closest rival, Attico Abu Bakr of the People's Democratic Party. The election, which took place on the 23rd of February, saw Buhari emerge victorious with a margin of 3.9 million votes, securing 56 percent of the total votes. The announcement was made by Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), after two days of counting the results. The declaration of Buhari as the winner was met with both celebration and controversy, as the defeated main opposition party, the PDP, expressed doubt and refused to accept the result. They called for a resolution through the legal process. Yusuf Istachidoka, a PDP representative, voiced this sentiment to journalists after the announcement. The extensive list of candidates and their respective votes further highlighted the scope of the election, with various parties participating in the democratic process. Buhari's victory marks his re-election bid and signals the continuation of his leadership in Nigeria. The outcome of the election sets the stage for the country's political landscape moving forward, with implications for governance, policy-making, and overall stability in the region.