*Full Results in 18 states declared

Maj. General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress has created a three million vote gap from President Goodluck Jonathan, his main rival in the Nigerian elections.

After votes were tallied by the Independent Electoral Commission for 16 states and the capital of Abuja, Buhari polled 8,002,889 votes. President Jonathan got 4,985,343 votes.

Buhari led in 10 of the 16 states, while Jonathan led in six, including Abuja, Ekiti, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo and Nasarawa states.

According to the official results, Buhari led Jonathan in Ogun state with 308,290 votes, Kogi 234,855. He also won Osun,(383,603), Ondo(299,889), Oyo(528,620), Kano(1,903,999), Jigawa(885,988), Katsina(1,345,441), Kwara(302,146), Kaduna(1,127,760).

The APC candidate performed woefully in the eastern Nigerian states of Enugu(14,157 votes), Anambra(17,926) and Abia(13,394). But he managed to a more appreciable vote in Imo state under Governor Rochas Okorocha, a member of his party.

President jonathan’s votes were buoyed up with votes from these four states, scoring 368,303 in Abia, 660,762 in Anambra and 553,003 votes in Enugu and 559,185 votes in Imo.

President Jonathan also narrowly snatched the central state of Nasarawa from Buhari’s APC, winning 273,467 votes. Buhari got, 236,838 votes. Jonathan also won the capital of Abuja, narrowly as well, with 157,195 votes to Buhari’s 146,399 votes.

President Jonathan was thrashed in the northern states of Kaduna, Jigawa and Katsina being governed by his party. He won 98,937 votes in Katsina, 484,085 votes in Kaduna, his best showing in the north so far, and Jigawa 142, 904 votes.

The INEC deferred the acceptance of the Akwa Ibom result because of arithmetical errors.

Other results: Akwa Ibom state: Buhari: 58,411; Jonathan 953,304
Plateau state: Buhari: 429,140; Jonathan: 549,615

After Akwa Ibom and Plateau votes added to the two candidates scores, Buhari has 8,490,440 votes. Jonathan has 6,488,262 votes. Collation continues at 10.00 am Nigerian time on Tuesday.