![\"Incumbent](\"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Goodluck-Jonathan-sad.jpg\")
<\/a>This is the first time since 1999, Nigerians have elected a President from the All Progressive Congress (APC).<\/p>\n
The elections, billed by analysts as the closest since Nigeria returned to democratic rule, lived up to expectations.<\/p>\n
The final result, is yet to be announced by the Chairman of the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Atahiru Jega but supporters of APC\u00a0across the country have started celebrating.<\/p>\n
Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan is said to have called the former military leader to congratulate him on the win.<\/p>\n
Technical challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n Voting was extended by a day<\/strong><\/span><\/a> following delays in the voting process on Saturday as a result of problems with the biometric verification machines and card readers.<\/p>\n Scores of\u00a0voters, including President Jonathan<\/strong><\/span><\/a> had to wait for several minutes until their identities were verified by the card readers.<\/p>\n Voters in Abuja were also made to wash their hands before the process as officials said the machines would work better with clean hands.<\/p>\n Irregularities<\/strong><\/p>\n There were also protests against alleged voting irregularities in River State with a committee formed to investigate<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>the claims, while reports of shootings, which, President Jonathan has since stated, were unrelated to the elections, at some centers also somewhat marred the process.<\/p>\n The loss represents a big blow to the APC in what was realistically 72-year-old General Buhari’s final attempt at<\/p>\n A lot had been made by campaigners for the President about Mahamadu Buhari’s age and whether he would be fit enough for the post.<\/p>\n Jonathan loss will be attributed to complaints about the rising levels of corruption in Africa’s most populous state while many observers remain skeptical about the government’s commitment towards the fight against militant Islamist group Boko Haram.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Nana Boakye-Yiadom\/Edwin Kwakofi\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/a>
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