General Buhari witnesses historic victory in Nigeria poll

Abuja, April 1: General Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) has won the poll in Nigeria, media reported on Wednesday.

General Buhari who had witnessed defeat in last three elections, created history in the March 28 election, becoming the first opposition candidate to defeat an incumbent in Nigeria.

He contested against President Goodluck Jonathan, who is from the southern Niger Delta region, for a second time at the polls, BBC reported.

Buhari's APC snatched victory from Jonathan's People's Democratic Party (PDP), which has dominated the political scene since the end of military rule in 1999.

Observers have generally praised the election, though there have been allegations of fraud.

Soon after his victory the septuagenarian leader was quoted as saying "Your vote affirms that you believe Nigeria's future can be better than what it is today. You voted for change and now change has come."

He further said "You, Nigerians, have won. The people have shown their love for this nation and their belief in democracy."

Since independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria gone through numerous coups and although the 2011 vote was an improvement, most elections have been rigged or even annulled by the military.

OneIndia News