Nigeria’s Buhari wins first two of 36 states

Bloomberg

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari won the first two of 36 states for which results were being announced by the election commission in a general election that was partly marred by delays, technical glitches and sporadic violence.
Buhari, 76, defeated his main challenger, Atiku Abubakar, in Ekiti state by a 58 percent to 40 percent margin, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced Monday in the capital, Abuja. Buhari lost the election in Ekiti four years ago. He also won in Osun state by a 49 to 47 percent margin.
As many as 73 million people were eligible to vote Saturday in a tight race between Buhari, an ex-general who campaigned on an anti-graft platform, and Abubakar, a 72-year-old businessman and former vice president. INEC’s announcement of the full results could take one or two days.
The presidential and parliamentary election in Africa’s top oil producer was the continent’s biggest-ever democratic exercise. Much will depend on turnout, which was less than 44 percent four years ago when Buhari became the first opposition candidate elected to the presidency in the West African nation’s history.
At least 39 people were killed in election-related violence, Clement Nwankwo, the chairman of Situation Room, a monitoring group, told reporters Monday in Abuja. The inspector general of police, who didn’t give a death toll, said 128 people were arrested across the country for offenses such as homicide and snatching of ballot boxes. INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said an election worker was killed by a stray bullet in Rivers state.
“Significant shortcomings have been recorded,” said Nwankwo. African Union Election Observation Mission head Hailemariam Desalegn said the vote was “largely peaceful and orderly,” during a press conference in Abuja.
To win, a candidate must get the majority of votes and at least 25 percent in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states and Federal Capital Territory. If none of them achieve that, there’ll be a second round. Analysts were more or less split down the middle over who would win ahead of the election.