Buharis Party Wins Commercial Capital Lagos in Regional Election

The Nigerian previous opposition has made more gains in the final round of the country's election process.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained the governorship in Lagos, and gained governorships, in northern states, of Kaduna, and Katsina.

Final results for 29 governorships and all 36 state assemblies are still being tallied.

Nigeria's governors, control huge budgets, and are among the country's most influential politicians.

The regional elections come two weeks after Muhammadu Buhari defeated incumbent president Good-luck Jonathan to become the country's first opposition candidate to win a presidential poll.

A FIRST IN HISTORY

On Sunday, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced, the general's APC had retained power, in Lagos state.

While voting was extended in several other states due to violence or voting irregularities, the result in Lagos means it will be the first time since the end of military rule in 1999 that the governor of that key state and the president will be from the same party.

Observers said turnout was low in the vote to elect 29 governors and all state assemblies, compared with the presidential vote last month that was considered the freest and fairest yet and paved the way for Nigeria's first democratic transfer of power, with Buhari beating President Goodluck Jonathan by a landslide.

The fear of violence at polling stations, which proved justified in some cases, mixed with voter apathy, kept many Nigerians at home, despite the fact that the governors are among their most influential politicians with budgets larger than those of some small nations.

At least ten people were killed in election-related violence on Friday and Saturday, including a politician in Ebonyi State from Jonathan's People's Democratic Party (PDP), who, police said, was shot in his home.