REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, ABUJA -- Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday publicly conceded defeat in the presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to lead the nation.

"I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure," he said in a statement.

"I have conveyed my personal best wishes to General Muhammadu Buhari." Jonathan's public admission of defeat in the nail-biting election came more than six hours after he rang Buhari to concede, earning him widespread praise for statesmanship.

Official final results are yet to be announced but Buhari ended the race some 2.5 million votes ahead, marking the first democratic transfer of power in Nigeria's history.

Jonathan and Buhari last week signed a non-violence pact, seeking to avoid a repeat of previous elections which were marred by deadly post-poll clashes between rival supporters, exacerbated by ethnic and religious tensions.

"I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word," added Jonathan, 57, urging disputes over the results to be settled in court rather than on the street.

"Nobody's ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else," he said.

Wild celebrations at 72-year-old Buhari's victory broke out at the headquarters of his All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja and in cities across the Muslim-majority north.

But Jonathan said there should not be despair in his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has governed Nigeria for all 16 years since military rule ended in 1999.

"Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning. We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections," he added.

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