GENERAL Muhammadu Buhari has been declared Nigeria's president-elect after winning last Saturday's elections with a margin of about 2.5m votes defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

In what was a close race that was hard to predict, General Buhari's All Progressive Congress (APC) defeated the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) in what represents the first time an incumbent government has been voted out of office in Nigeria. In the legislative elections that took place simultaneously, the APC also took control of the senate with 61 seats compared with the PDP's 48. 

Although Borno State is still to declare its presidential results, General Buhari won with over 25% of the vote in 26 of the 35 states that have declared so far, meeting the constitutional requirement of getting a quarter of the vote in two thirds of the states. His APC won a total of 14,953,378 votes in the 35 states so far declared compared with the PDP's 12,827,522 votes and the APC is expected to win in Borno comfortably. 

First among the APC leaders to congratulate General Buhari was the Ekiti State governor Ayo Fayose, a fierce critic of the general. In his message, Governor Fayose urged Nigerians to accept the outcome of Saturday’s presidential election in good faith. 

Governor Fayose said: “The election result is the will of God and Nigerians and all lovers of peace, progress and development of Nigeria must accept it. To me, Nigerians and democracy won.” 

"By this election, Nigerians have shown that democracy has come to stay in the country. I salute President Jonathan for laying the most solid foundation for democracy in Nigeria and I salute Major General Buhari for being resilience and dogged fighter." 

During the course of campaign, Governor Fayose had used derogatory language to attack General Buhari, saying he was too old to run for office and questioning his health. He also questioned General Buhari's qualification for the job, saying he did not have any O'Levels, which is the minimum academic qualification required to run for Nigeria's president. 

However, appearing to have toned down his harsh rhetoric, Governor Fayose said all Nigerians should rally round General Buhari and support his presidency. He pledged not to be disruptive and urged the people of Ekiti State to do likewise. 

“I urge Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation to respect the outcome of the election in the interest of peace, progress and development of the country. Nigeria as a country is greater than any individual or group and it is my plea that no one should do anything to rock the boat of peace in the country,” Governor Fayose added.

States in which the APC won include Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and  Osun. In contrast the PDP won in Plateau, Nasarawa, Taraba, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi. 

Sources close to the presidency say President Goodluck Jonathan has rung General Buhari to congratulate him. Both men will now be expected to work towards a smooth handover on May 29.