Bola Tinubu, the candidate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the president-elect of Nigeria by the country’s electoral commission. The announcement, made at a ceremony on Wednesday, that was boycotted by the two main opposition parties, followed a disputed weekend election
Tinubu’s victory extends the APC’s hold on power in Africa’s largest oil producer and most populous nation. However, the president-elect will inherit a range of challenges from President Muhammadu Buhari, also of the APC. As the former governor of commercial hub Lagos, Tinubu secured 8.79 million votes, surpassing his main opposition challenger, Atiku Abubakar, who received 6.98 million votes. The outsider candidate, Peter Obi, who had gained popularity with younger voters, received 6.1 million votes.
Under Nigerian electoral law, a candidate can win by receiving more votes than their rivals, as long as they secure 25% of the vote in at least two-thirds of the 36 states and the federal capital Abuja. Tinubu managed to achieve this requirement.
It remains to be seen how Tinubu will tackle the country’s many challenges, including a struggling economy.