Soldiers are swarming parts of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order ahead of announcement of the final result of the country’s presidential election held over the weekend.

President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is leading his main challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with 19,763 votes (2,322,742, as against 2,302,979) from the eight states (Ekiti, Ogun, Enugu, Kogi, Osun, Ondo, Oyo and Nasarawa) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) declared before the collators went on break this afternoon.

During the interval, a crowd of supporters of Buhari took to the streets in the Mararaba area of the FCT, chanting that he must be declared winner of the election. “Soldiers have arrived and restored order and even set up a camp in the neighbourhood,” a source told News Express. “Soldiers are patrolling Abuja to ensure the maintenance of law and order,” the source added.

Meanwhile, APC is said to be putting Buhari’s campaign headquarters in Abuja in shape for a celebration in expectation that he would eventually win the ballot. The collation, taking place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, and being presided over by Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, resumes at 8pm.

•File photo shows troops on patrol.