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Goodluck Jonathan concedes defeat in Nigerian election

NIGERIAN president Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat in the country's election, paving the way for an unprecedented peaceful transfer of power.

Amid anger over an Islamic insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives, Nigerians threw out the incumbent and elected 72-year-old former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari.

It was a historic transfer of power following the most hotly contested election in the history of Africa's most populous nation.

Mr Jonathan conceded defeat to the former general before the final announcement of election results.

"Nobody's ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian," he said, as he congratulated his successor on his victory.

"I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word."

It will be the first time in Nigeria's history that an opposition party has democratically taken control from the ruling party - considered a sign of the West African nation's maturing young democracy.

Mr Jonathan's party has governed since decades of military dictatorship ended in 1999.

Celebrations erupted throughout Mr Buhari's strongholds in northern Nigeria and around his campaign headquarters in Abuja.

Cars honked and people waved brooms in the air - a symbol of Mr Buhari's campaign promise to sweep out Nigeria's endemic corruption.

Mr Jonathan's concession came before the final announcement of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission and as Mr Buhari prepared to address the nation.

Results of all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory showed Mr Buhari, who ruled with an iron hand during a brief tenure in the 1980s, dealing a crushing defeat to Mr Jonathan.

An Associated Press count of the final results showed Mr Buhari winning more than 15.3 million votes to Mr Jonathan's 12.9 million.

Mr Buhari won 19 states to Mr Jonathan's 17 states and the small Federal Capital Territory.