Mohammedu Buhari on verge of claiming victory in Nigerian Presidential Elections

Challenger appears to have opened up unassailable lead over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan .

Former military ruler and presidential aspirant of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) Muhammadu Buhari

Mohammedu Buhari was on the brink of declaring victory in Nigeria's presidential elections on Tuesday, after claiming a lead of more than two million votes against over incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.

While many of votes from Saturday's elections were still being counted, poor turnouts in many of Mr Jonathan's southern strongholds meant that the sitting president and his People's Democratic Party (PDP) had a large gap to make up.

Mr Buhari's camp said barring any unexpected swings in the remaining vote counts, his lead now looked like being unassailable.

Mark Pursey, managing partner of BTP Advisers, a London-based PR firm engaged Mr Buhari's All Progressives Congress party, told The Telegraph: "The current situation is looking very promising for the APC and Buhari. There are still some states to announce, but strong turnout in opposition states, matched with a more lacklustre showing by PDP supporters in their strongholds, mean it will be very difficult for President Jonathan to overcome the already significant deficit of two million votes."

Mr Buhari, 72, who ruled with an iron fist in the 1980s, is challenging Mr Jonathan over his record on clamping down on corruption and on dealing with the Boko Haram insurgents who kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from northern Nigeria last year.