KANO, Nigeria — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari surged to an early lead in election returns Monday, winning seven of 36 states in Africa’s largest democracy, while the main opposition rejected the count, alleging manipulation.
Election observers said the last-minute postponement of the vote until Saturday discouraged some Nigerians from going to the polls as Buhari seeks a second term heading a country troubled by corruption, insecurity and a weak economy.
Buhari, a former military dictator from the north, faced a strong challenge from top opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and businessman, in a race many saw as too close to call.
As of midnight, Abubakar had won three southern states and the territory that includes the capital, Abuja. Buhari led by more than 450,000 votes overall.
Abubakar’s party chairman, Uche Secondus, accused ruling party agents of hacking into the electoral commission’s computer server and manipulating results. He rejected the count as “incorrect, thus unacceptable.”
The ruling party dismissed the claim and accused Abubakar’s party of trying to discredit the election. Spokesman Festus Keyamo urged the opposition not to “derail us to the dark past with its childish antics.”
Final results are expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.
African Union observers called the political climate “largely peaceful and conducive for the conducting of credible elections” but urged the country of some 190 million people to remain calm.
At least 39 people were killed in voting-related violence over the weekend. Election observers organized by the Commonwealth, of which Nigeria is a member, called that “deeply troubling,” saying Africa’s largest democracy can do better.
