KANO: A man reading a national newspaper with a headline announcing the victory of the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in presidential election on Wednesday --AFP ABUJA, Feb 27 (AP): Nigeria's president was declared the clear winner of a second term in Africa's largest democracy early Wednesday, after a campaign in which he urged voters to give him another chance to tackle gaping corruption, widespread insecurity and an economy limping back from a rare recession.
While many frustrated Nigerians had said they wanted to give someone new a try, President Muhammadu Buhari , a former military dictator, profited from his upright reputation in an oil-rich nation weary of politicians enriching themselves instead of the people.
Top opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar, a billionaire former vice president who made sweeping campaign promises to "make Nigeria work again," quickly rejected the result of what he called a "sham election" and said he would challenge it in court.
Speaking shortly after the announcement of the official results and as many Nigerians awakened to the morning prayer, Buhari told colleagues that he was "deeply humbled" by the win. He also said he regretted the loss of dozens of lives in election-related violence.
"I will like to make a special appeal to my supporters not to gloat or humiliate the opposition. Victory is enough reward for your efforts," Buhari said.
He pledged that in his second term, his administration "will intensify its efforts in security, restructuring the economy and fighting corruption. ... We will strive to strengthen our unity and inclusiveness so that no section or group will feel left behind or left out."
In a statement shared by aides, Abubakar said he would have conceded "within seconds" if the vote had been free and fair, but instead he alleged "manifest and premeditated malpractices" in many of Nigeria's 36 states.
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