Early results from Nigeria’s closest election since the end of military dictatorship in 1999 have begun to come in.
According to official results, candidate Bola Tinubu of the ruling party won handily in one of his strongholds in the southwest Nigerian state of Ekiti.
Upcoming results won’t be properly published until Monday at 10:00 GMT.
Voting was delayed till Sunday in various parts of the nation due to severe delays and attacks on a few polling places on Saturday.
In several places, voting went on all night.
In particular, among young people, who make up approximately one-third of the 87 million eligible voters, turnout seems to be strong.
As a result, it is Africa’s largest democratic exercise.
The two-party system that has ruled Nigeria for the past 24 years has faced an unprecedented threat in the election.
Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and Peter Obi of the previously unknown Labour Party are all viewed as probable winners. There are 15 other people running for president.
To be crowned the victor, a candidate must receive the most votes and 25% of the total ballots cast in 26 of Nigeria’s 36 states.
If not, there will be a run-off in 21 days, which is unprecedented in Nigerian history.
