Abuja: Muhammadu Buhari said he was "deeply humbled and profoundly grateful" after being declared the clear winner of a second term in Africa's largest democracy Nigeria early on Wednesday.
Buhari addressed supporters in Abuja after a campaign in which he urged voters to give him another chance to tackle gaping corruption, widespread insecurity, and an economy limping back from a rare recession.
While many frustrated Nigerians had said they wanted to give someone new a try, former military dictator Buhari profited from his upright reputation in an oil-rich nation weary of politicians enriching themselves instead of the people.
Supporters began dancing in the streets of the capital, Abuja, on Tuesday night as vote counting stretched his lead from the weekend election to nearly four million votes over top opposition challenger Atiku Abubakar, a billionaire former vice president who made sweeping campaign promises to "make Nigeria work again".
Buhari received 15.1 million votes, or 55 percent, the electoral commission said in making its official declaration before dawn on Wednesday.
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Abubakar received 11.2 million, or 41 percent.
The average national turnout was 35.6 percent, continuing a downward trend.
