Veteran politician and candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress party(APC) Bola Tinubu 70, got 37% of the vote, according to official results as of Wednesday, following February 25's presidential election. His main rival Atiku Abubakar 76, of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) his main rival polled 29%, while Labour Party's Peter Obi, 61, got 25%.
With about 8.8 million votes cast for Tinubu, he got less than 10% of the record 93 million overall votes, helped by a divided opposition. Voter turnout at 27%, was one of the lowest since the end of military rule in 1999, according to official results.
There were widespresd problems reported on voting day, with many potential voters leaving polling stations without casting their ballots after voting did not start on time in many places. In some opposition strongholds, voting did not take place at all and there were also cases of ballot-box snatching and voter intimidation in southern states such as Rivers, Lagos and Delta. Problems with the newly introduced electronic voting system were also reported at many locations.
While he met the 25% requirement in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states to show he was nationally accepted, the nature of Tinubu's win indicates the absence of a truly national party.
Previously all major parties have split their presidential tickets with a Christian from the south and a northern Muslim in order to achieve broad support across this vast nation of 210 million people. However Tinubu, a south-western muslim himself, was widely criticized for picking another muslim as a running mate.
Obi, who won in Christian-dominated southern states has indicated he may challenge the election. Labour Party's lawyers are "putting the papers together" to challenge Tinubu's victory, in court. His stronghold in south-eastern Anambra state, where he once served as governor, is quiet but there is an underlying sense of bitter anger. Many feel frustrated at what they see as a fraudulent electoral process.
Tinubu won most states in his home region of the south-west, where he is known as a "political godfather" -- for helping to put others into office. "I take this opportunity to appeal to my fellow contestants to let us team up together," he said in his acceptance speech. "It is the only nation we have. It is one country and we must build it together."
The 70-year-old, who is one of Nigeria's richest politicians, hails from one of the 3 largest ethnic groups, Yoruba. He based his campaign on the slogan: "Emi lo kan," which means "It's my turn." Known as "Jagaban" by supporters, Tinubu will face the difficult task of trying to unify a country that is ever retreating into regional lines and religious blocs.
President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping down after two terms in office, marked by economic stagnation and growing insecurity around the country -- from an Islamist terrorism in the north-east to a nationwide crisis of kidnapping for ransom. Tinubu now has the task of solving these problems, among others, in Africa's most populous nation and biggest oil exporter.
Following the elections, the normally bustling streets of Nigeria's commercial capital city Lagos are still relatively quiet on Wednesday, the usual rush-hour traffic has not been seen and some shops, businesses and banks have not opened. Tinubu who was a former governor of Lagos state, was defeated by Obi in the city.