Nigeria's Election Commission To Announce Winner of Presidential Election Today


Counting is underway in Nigeria's presidential election, with the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
 
The Independent Election Commission, INEC, says it hopes to announce the winner today.
 
The UN has praised the poll despite technical hitches, protests and violence linked to Boko Haram.  Voting spilled into a second day in some parts of Nigeria after problems with the new electronic card readers.  

President Jonathan was among those unable to cast his vote using the technology, which was introduced to prevent fraud. 

The INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega, stressed that only a fraction of the 150 thousand card readers being used nationwide failed.  The vote had been delayed by six weeks because of the insurgency by Boko Haram militants. 


GBC/BBC