Bola Tinubu declared winner in Nigeria’s presidential election

The two leading opposition parties had demanded a revote on Tuesday, saying that delays in uploading election results had made room for irregularities

Election officials declared ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu the winner of Nigeria's presidential election early on March 1, with the two leading opposition candidates already demanding a revote in Africa's most populous nation.

The overnight announcement was likely to lead to a court challenge by his main opponents Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi. Mr. Abubakar also finished second in the last vote in 2019, then appealed those results before his lawsuit ultimately was dismissed.

On Tuesday, the two leading opposition parties had demanded a revote, saying that delays in uploading election results had made room for irregularities. The ruling All Progressives Congress party urged the opposition to accept defeat and not cause trouble.

Mr. Tinubu received 37% of the vote, or nearly 8.8 million, while the main opposition candidate Mr. Abubakar won 29% with almost 7 million. Third-place finisher Mr. Obi took 25% with about 6.1 million, according to the results announced on live television by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Mr. Tinubu "having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” said the country’s election chief, Mahmood Yakubu.

Mr. Tinubu, 70, is the former governor of Lagos state, home to Nigeria's megacity of the same name. However, he lost the state in Saturday's election to Mr. Obi, who drew a strong following among younger voters eager for change.

The announcement came after 4 a.m., but celebrations already had started late on Tuesday at the ruling party’s national secretariat where Mr. Tinubu’s supporters had gathered in anticipation of his victory.