The results showed that the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the race with over 22 million votes (22,495,187) and 58.89 per cent beating his closest rival, Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC) who got over 12 million votes (12,214,853) and 31.98 per cent.
Nuhu Ribadu, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate came third with slightly over 2 million votes (2,079,151) and 5.41 per cent. A total number of 39, 469, 484 votes were cast but 1,259,506 votes were rejected as invalid votes.
The election results were announced under a peaceful atmosphere though amidst worries over the violence which broke out in some cities in the northern part of Nigeria that many though will hinder the announcement. After the results were announced, the different party agents were called upon to sign the result sheets and collect copies of the result.
‘Be accountable’
Meanwhile, a development agency, ActionAid Nigeria has warned Nigerian politicians against what it described as “preventable eruption” in the country. “The Nigeria political class has to realise that it cannot continue to waste the lives of the people it seeks to lead”. ActionAid said in reaction to violence that broke in some parts of Nigeria yesterday morning.
In a statement issued by the organisation, it condemned the violence and called on politicians to urge their supporters to embrace peace; saying that the worst hit of these sort of violence are usually the poor.
Hussaini Abdu, the Country’s Director advised the contenders of the elections to seek measures other than violence in seeking redress for cases of election rigging.
He said that “Democratic contest should rather be characterised by exchange of ideas, healthy political rivalry and a genuine commitment by politicians to work towards the one gal of eradicating poverty and placing Nigeria on the path to genuine greatness and nationhood.”
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