Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, as his last assignment in Abuja's corridors of power, addressed the nation and defended his record on the economy.

President Buhari said that he was leaving a legacy of credible and fair voting and that the country was in better shape since 2015.

Buhari first came to office in 2015 after promising an elevated economy and an end to corruption and insecurity.

Meanwhile, incoming President Bola Tinubu's victory is being challenged by his two closest opposition rivals.

On Tuesday, a court will begin to hear the main arguments in the election petition.

Buhari, an 80-year-old retired general, said the February vote had helped entrench democracy in Africa's most populous nation and that Tinubu, who ran on his ruling party's ticket, was the best candidate to emerge from the election.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-the-political-life-of-president-muhammadu-buhari-who-bid-farewell-to-nigeria-597476">Explained: The political life of outgoing Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari</a>

"I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum," Buhari said in his farewell speech.

"To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world," Buhari said.

Tinubu is inheriting double-digit inflation, which has eroded savings and wages. It is one of the biggest issues that will confront him when he is sworn into office.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Bola Tinubu wins Presidential elections of Nigeria

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President Buhari, however, said that his government had made some difficult choices to reset the economy, some of which "led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologise&nbsp;to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the overall good of the country."

Buhari also defended accusations that extremism had grown under his watch in Nigeria.

“Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably,” he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, as his last assignment in Abuja's corridors of power, addressed the nation and defended his record on the economy.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday, as his last assignment in Abuja's corridors of power, addressed the nation and defended his record on the economy. President Buhari said that he was leaving a legacy of credible and fair voting and that the country was in better shape since 2015. Buhari first came to office in 2015 after promising an elevated economy and an end to corruption and insecurity. Meanwhile, incoming President Bola Tinubu's victory is being challenged by his two closest opposition rivals. On Tuesday, a court will begin to hear the main arguments in the election petition. Buhari, an 80-year-old retired general, said the February vote had helped entrench democracy in Africa's most populous nation and that Tinubu, who ran on his ruling party's ticket, was the best candidate to emerge from the election. ALSO READ | Explained: The political life of outgoing Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari "I am leaving behind an electoral process which guarantees that votes count, results are credible, elections are fair and transparent and the influence of money in politics reduced to the barest minimum," Buhari said in his farewell speech. "To my brother, friend and fellow worker in the political terrain for the past ten years – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu -, I congratulate you on the realisation of your dream, which was propelled by a burning passion to put Nigeria amongst the leading nations of the world," Buhari said. Tinubu is inheriting double-digit inflation, which has eroded savings and wages. It is one of the biggest issues that will confront him when he is sworn into office. ALSO WATCH | Bola Tinubu wins Presidential elections of Nigeria × President Buhari, however, said that his government had made some difficult choices to reset the economy, some of which "led to temporary pain and suffering for which I sincerely apologise to my fellow countrymen, but the measures were taken for the overall good of the country." Buhari also defended accusations that extremism had grown under his watch in Nigeria. “Our battle to ensure that all Nigerians live in a safe and secure environment has achieved considerable results. As I complete my term in office, we have been able to reduce the incidences of banditry, terrorism, armed robbery and other criminal activities considerably,” he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Nigerians have chosen well': President Muhammudu Buhari hails successor Tinubu

Nigeria began to announce early results on Sunday after a tight election for the presidency of Africa's most populous nation, as concerns grew over long delays in voting and accusations of attempts to manipulate tallies.

Nigeria began to announce early results on Sunday after a tight election for the presidency of Africa's most populous nation, as concerns grew over long delays in voting and accusations of attempts to manipulate tallies. The election went ahead mostly peacefully, despite some ransacked polling stations and late starts at many others. Voters stayed up late at night in many locations to observe the count and "protect" the ballots. Nearly 90 million were eligible to vote on Saturday for a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, with many Nigerians hoping a new leader will do a better job tackling insecurity, economic malaise and growing poverty. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu told reporters results would be officially announced state by state from Sunday when tallies are collated. But slow uploading of results to INEC's online website provoked worries of electoral malpractice in a country with a history of ballot rigging and vote buying. "Let Nigeria decide O! @inecigeria," Nigerian Afrobeats star and Grammy Awards winner Burna Boy wrote on Twitter. "No try any result magic." The election pits former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, 70, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against former vice president Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 76. But for the first time since the end of military rule in 1999, a surprise third-party candidate, Labour Party's Peter Obi, has challenged the APC and PDP dominance with a message of change. PDP's candidate Abubakar urged INEC to upload the results immediately after accusing some state governors of trying to compromise the results. "It will be a disservice to Nigerians and a negation to democracy for anyone to subvert the will of the people as freely expressed in their votes of yesterday," he said in a statement. When he was defeated by Buhari in the 2019 election, Abubakar claimed massive fraud. The Supreme Court eventually tossed out his challenge. Labour Party chairman Julius Abure also accused election officials of failing to upload results from parts of Lagos and southern Delta State to help ruling APC's candidate. Observers group Yiaga Africa said it was "deeply concerned with the delay" in results. But INEC said problems with uploading results on its IReV data page were due "technical hitches" and there was no risk of tampering. "The commission wishes to assure Nigerians that the challenges are not due to any intrusion or sabotage of our systems," it said in a statement. "It is important to avoid statements and actions that can heat up the polity at this time." - 'Race is open' - In Lagos and other cities, crowds stormed polling stations late on Saturday as electoral officials tallied the first results by hand and read out the counts before transmitting them to the central database. On Sunday morning, people gathered at a newspaper stand in the Falomo area of Lagos, eager for results to come in and expressing hope this election would bring change. "Last time, we knew Buhari was going to be re-elected, there was no excitement, but this time is so different, the race is open and there is hope," said mechanic Orubibi Dighobo. Some polling stations were still voting early on Sunday after long delays getting started. The commission has 14 days to officially announce results, but the online tally should be made available over the next few days. To win the presidency, a candidate must get the most votes but also win at least 25 percent of votes cast in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states. Some states are must wins. Lagos has the most registered voters at more than 7 million, followed by two states in the country's mostly Muslim north, Kano and Kaduna states. The competitive race has some analysts forecasting an unprecedented runoff between the two frontrunners if no candidate meets election requirements. It would have to be organised within 21 days. - Old guard rivals - The success of Nigeria's vote will be closely watched in West Africa, where coups in Mali and Burkina Faso and growing Islamist militancy have taken democracy in the region back a step. Buhari, a former army general, will step down after two terms in office. His critics say he failed in his key promises to make Nigeria safer. Fuel and cash shortages at banks caused by a naira currency bill exchange programme in the run-up to the election also left many Nigerians struggling more than usual. Whoever wins the election must quickly get to grips with Africa's largest economy and top oil producer, beset by problems from a grinding jihadist war in the northeast to double digit inflation. APC's candidate Tinubu, a long-time political kingmaker and southern ethnic Yoruba Muslim, says "It's my turn" for the presidency. He says his experience as Lagos governor will count. He faces a familiar rival -- PDP candidate Abubakar, a Muslim from the northeast who is on his sixth bid for the top job and touts his business experience to fix the economy. But both are old guard figures who have fought off past corruption accusations, and the emergence of Obi, a Christian ethnic Igbo from the southeast, threw the race open. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Nigeria awaits results after tight election

Nigeria's presidential election was marked by long delays at some polling stations on Saturday, however, it did not deter large crowds of voters hoping for a reset after years of worsening violence and hardship under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari.&nbsp;

According to reports in Reuters, several hours of delay in some places was witnessed, while voting got underway more swiftly in others. &nbsp;

"As you can see, our people have turned out hugely. Voter enlightenment was high and people are excited to take part in the election," said Emmanuel Nwosu, a voter waiting for his polling station to open in the southeastern city of Onitsha.&nbsp;

"We will wait. They were supposed to start accreditation by 8:30 a.m. but even if they come at 9 p.m. today we will stay and vote." &nbsp;

Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in several states said they had been delayed due to the late arrival of vehicles to transport them. &nbsp;

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the World Trade Organisation, said on Twitter that her polling station in her home village in southeastern Abia State opened about three hours late. &nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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"The turnout is unbelievable, the largest I have ever seen in all the years I have voted in the village. Young and very old all are here," she said just after voting. &nbsp;

Buhari, a retired army general, is stepping down after serving the maximum eight years allowed by the constitution but failing to deliver on his pledge to bring back order and security across Nigeria, Africa's top oil-producing nation. &nbsp;

The candidates from two parties that have alternated in power since the end of army rule in 1999 are facing an unusually strong challenge from a minor party candidate popular among young voters. &nbsp;

With seats in the National Assembly also up for grabs, more than 93 million people are registered to vote at some 176,600 polling stations — which were supposed to be open between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (0730 GMT to 1330 GMT). &nbsp;

INEC made no comment on the delays but had said before election day that anyone who joined the queue on time would be able to vote even after the official closing time.

The final tally from the 36 states and federal capital Abuja is expected within five days of voting. &nbsp;

The election comes as Nigerians are struggling to cope with a shortage of cash caused by a botched plan to swap old banknotes for new ones that wreaked havoc on people's daily lives and led to scenes of violence at banks and cash machines.&nbsp;

The new president will also have to grapple with problems ranging from high inflation, deep poverty and energy shortages, to an Islamist insurgency in the northeast, industrial-scale oil theft in the south and rampant crime everywhere. &nbsp;

"I hope that whoever becomes president will alleviate the suffering of the masses," said Umar Abdullahi, a tea seller waiting to vote in the northern city of Kano.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The main contenders to succeed Buhari are former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, 70, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, 76, of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, 61, of the smaller Labour Party.&nbsp;

&nbsp;All three voted in their home states, surrounded by chaotic scrums of reporters and supporters.&nbsp;

Tinubu and Atiku, as he is known in Nigeria, are both political heavyweights with decades of networking behind them. Both Muslims, Tinubu is an ethnic Yoruba from the southwest and Atiku is a Fulani from the northeast.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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Nigeria's presidential election was marked by long delays at some polling stations on Saturday, however, it did not deter large crowds of voters hoping for a reset after years of worsening violence and hardship under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria's presidential election was marked by long delays at some polling stations on Saturday, however, it did not deter large crowds of voters hoping for a reset after years of worsening violence and hardship under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari. According to reports in Reuters, several hours of delay in some places was witnessed, while voting got underway more swiftly in others. "As you can see, our people have turned out hugely. Voter enlightenment was high and people are excited to take part in the election," said Emmanuel Nwosu, a voter waiting for his polling station to open in the southeastern city of Onitsha. "We will wait. They were supposed to start accreditation by 8:30 a.m. but even if they come at 9 p.m. today we will stay and vote." Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in several states said they had been delayed due to the late arrival of vehicles to transport them. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the World Trade Organisation, said on Twitter that her polling station in her home village in southeastern Abia State opened about three hours late. Watch this report: × "The turnout is unbelievable, the largest I have ever seen in all the years I have voted in the village. Young and very old all are here," she said just after voting. Buhari, a retired army general, is stepping down after serving the maximum eight years allowed by the constitution but failing to deliver on his pledge to bring back order and security across Nigeria, Africa's top oil-producing nation. The candidates from two parties that have alternated in power since the end of army rule in 1999 are facing an unusually strong challenge from a minor party candidate popular among young voters. With seats in the National Assembly also up for grabs, more than 93 million people are registered to vote at some 176,600 polling stations — which were supposed to be open between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (0730 GMT to 1330 GMT). INEC made no comment on the delays but had said before election day that anyone who joined the queue on time would be able to vote even after the official closing time. The final tally from the 36 states and federal capital Abuja is expected within five days of voting. The election comes as Nigerians are struggling to cope with a shortage of cash caused by a botched plan to swap old banknotes for new ones that wreaked havoc on people's daily lives and led to scenes of violence at banks and cash machines. The new president will also have to grapple with problems ranging from high inflation, deep poverty and energy shortages, to an Islamist insurgency in the northeast, industrial-scale oil theft in the south and rampant crime everywhere. "I hope that whoever becomes president will alleviate the suffering of the masses," said Umar Abdullahi, a tea seller waiting to vote in the northern city of Kano. The main contenders to succeed Buhari are former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu, 70, of the ruling All Progressives Congress, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, 76, of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, and former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, 61, of the smaller Labour Party. All three voted in their home states, surrounded by chaotic scrums of reporters and supporters. Tinubu and Atiku, as he is known in Nigeria, are both political heavyweights with decades of networking behind them. Both Muslims, Tinubu is an ethnic Yoruba from the southwest and Atiku is a Fulani from the northeast. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Voting starts late across parts of Nigeria in crucial election amid high voter turnout