Jega, second left at the INEC collation centre in Abuja

Main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari won Nigeria’s presidential election by 2.57 million votes, according to official results announced on Wednesday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission said the 72-year-old, from the All Progressives Congress (APC), won 15,424,921 votes or 53.95 percent of the 28,587,564 total valid votes cast.

His nearest rival, President Goodluck Jonathan, 57, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won 12,853,162 (44.96 percent) at the election, which was held on Saturday and Sunday.

INEC chairman Attahiru Jega said: “Muhammadu Buhari, of the APC, having satisfied the requirement for the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”