2nd LD Writethru: Opposition candidate Buhari wins Nigerian presidential election

Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of Nigeria's opposition All Progressives Congress, was officially declared president-elect Wednesday, the first time in Nigeria's history that a sitting president has been defeated at the polls.

Earlier, outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat, saying he has kept his promise of free and fair elections in the nation.

Buhari defeated Jonathan by a margin of 2.57 million votes.

Buhari, who had unsuccessfully contested in three consecutive presidential elections between 2003 and 2011, was congratulated by Jonathan, who said it became rife for Buhari to win the battle.

Nigeria's Electoral Chief Attahiru Jega declared Buhari, 72, winner of the election early Wednesday.

The Independent National Electoral Commission said 14 political parties and candidates had contested in the election, but it became a two-horse race at the final stage between Jonathan and Buhari, who were also rivals in the 2011 presidential race.

Buhari, a former military dictator who had ousted a democratically inaugurated government in a coup but also lost his government in another one 18 months later 30 years ago.

Buhari is facing no easy task ahead. He has to build bridges in a country of 170 million people split along ethnic, religious and regional lines, revive the economy hit by falling oil prices and restore security amid threats posed by extremist group Boko Haram. Endi