Muhammadu Buhari (76) has been re-elected for another four-year term in the just concluded presidential elections in Nigeria.

According to results by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Buhari scored 15,191,847 against his closest rival and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar (11,262,978).

To win the presidency in Nigeria, a candidate needs a majority of votes nationwide and at least 25 percent of support in two-thirds of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“….That Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” INEC announced.

Mr. Buhari, a member of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party, had in his campaign promised to build on his accomplishments in office under the slogan “Next Level”.

Abubakar’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had called for a halt in the vote count citing irregularities after provisional results showed Buhari leading on most of the states.

Buhari made history when he was first elected in 2015 when he became Nigeria’s first opposition candidate to beat an incumbent president (president Goodluck Jonathan).

This year’s election had been marred by controversies right from the start. The poll, which had been initially scheduled for February 16, was postponed in a last minute change of plans by a week, to the dismay of voters.