Buhari secures second term as president of Nigeria

Incumbent Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election held last weekend.

Buhari has now secured a second term beating off a challenge from the opposition leader Atiku Abubakar from the PDP.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Buhari winner of the electoral contest on Wednesday.

Buhari secured 56 percent of votes, while Atiku managed 41 percent of the votes.

President Buhari according to INEC won by 3.9 million votes. He garnered 15.2 million to Atiku’s 11.3 million.

But the turnout was 35.6 percent, compared with 44 percent in the 2015 presidential election, according to INEC.

There are indications the low turnout could have been as a result of the decision to delay the process by a week.

That Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected. #NigeriaDecides2019⁠Result pic.twitter.com/oz89PAz1QM

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) February 27, 2019

What next for Nigeria? 

President Muhammadu Buhari, 76,  after winning the 2015 presidential election promised to tackle corruption and restructure the Nigerian economy.

On Wednesday he again promised to address these issues. He told his supporters at the campaign headquarters in the capital Abuja that “The new administration will intensify its efforts in security, restructuring the economy and fighting corruption.”

Buhari also asked his supporters “not to gloat or humiliate” the opposition.

The Nigerian leader had contested for president in 2003, 2007 and 2011. He first became successful in 2015.

I would like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) February 27, 2019

Source: Africafeeds.com