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1st LD: Jonathan concedes defeat in presidential election: opposition candidate

Xinhua, April 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat in weekend's presidential poll on Tuesday when he made a surprise call to Muhammdu Buhari, the opposition All Progressives Congress candidate, who is about to be declared winner of the election by the country's electoral commission.

Buhari confirmed to Xinhua that he received a call from the president at exactly 5:15 p.m. local time, congratulating him on his electoral victory.

By calling to congratulate his challenger in the presidential election, Jonathan has done what has never been done in the history of Nigeria, whereby a defeated candidate will immediately call the winner of an election, said Nigeria's former military ruler, Abdulsalam Abubakar.

Meanwhile, Buhari has issued an interim message of thanks and gratitude to Nigerians for choosing him and his party over and above the People's Democratic Party and their candidate.

Although the Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission is yet to officially announce winner of the presidential poll, figures so far released by the electoral body in 35 states, and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, had shown the Nigerian opposition party won the election.

Shehu Garba, spokesman of the opposition party's campaign organization, said the political group has already declared a victory party in Abuja, with the party's presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, in attendance.

"We have already won the election. The figures have shown we won and the ruling party cannot meet up with the figures. It is not possible," Garba told Xinhua.

Only result of the northeastern state of Borno was being expected at the national collation center, as of the time of filing this report.

Attahiru Jega, the country's electoral chief, is expected to officially declare winner of the election late Tuesday. Endi