Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has breasted the tape ahead of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country’s presidential ballot held over weekend.

He won the majority votes and also met the spread requirement, according to the figures released by the various State Presidential Election Collation Officers at the on-going collation exercise at the African Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, which is serving as the National Collation Centre.

Buhari is beating President Jonathan with over 2 million votes, outrightly winning 20 out of the country’s 36 states and securing the required 25 per cent votes in 25 states. The only outstanding result is that of Borno – Buhari’s stronghold – which will be collated upon reconvening at 8pm. Jonathan won 15 states in addition to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Candidates of the 12 other political parties that participated in the ballot scored insignificant votes.

An official declaration of Buhari as the winner of the election is expected to be made later tonight by Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega.

The announced official results vindicate News Express, which early this morning broke the story of Buhari’s victory in a story entitled, ‘BUHARI MAKES HISTORY •How he defeated Jonathan in presidential election’.

This is the first time that an opposition party is winning a presidential election in Nigeria. Buhari, the country’s military ruler from January 1, 1984 to August 14, 1985, is expected to take over from Jonathan on May 29, 2015.

•Photo shows Buhari waving a broom (the APC symbol) at rally.