Nigeria has a new president, former military ruler MuhammaduBuhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the country’s new president, beating out incumbent Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The APC was declaring Buhari the winner with 15.1 million votes, and one more of Nigeria’s 36 states left to declare the winner.
The new president ruled Nigeria from 1983 to 1985 before being ousted in another military takeover. Buhari now becomes the first opposition leader to be democratically elected in Nigeria.
Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan telephoned Buhari, conceding defeat, and congratulated the new president.
The election was not without its problems, including violence, a cyber-security breach, and an extension in voting.
A statement issued by the APC called for “calm, sober celebrations” and warning supporters not to attack opponents. “He or she is not with me, whoever does that,”Buhari said.
The international community will be watching closely to see if the election of a northerner will help bring an end to the tyranny of the Boko Haram and the petroleum industry will be watching to see if the Niger Delta militants rise up in protest to their southern president being ousted.