File photo taken on Sept 24, 2010 shows Nigerian President Jonathan delivering a speech during the 65th UN General Assembly conference in New York, the United States. Goodluck Jonathan from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) wins the Nigerian presidential election, announced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

ABUJA - Goodluck Jonathan from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) has won the Nigerian presidential election, announced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday.

According to the result released here by INEC Chairman Attairu Jega, the PDP won 22,495,187, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) 12,214,852, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) 917,012, and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) 2,791, 051.

The valid votes totalled 37,716,842 out of 73 million registered voters, representing about 50 percent voter turnout.

The Nigerian leader garnered 59.64 percent of the votes cast, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (CPC) 32.38 percent, Nuhu Ribadu (ACN) 5. 54 and Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) 2.43 percent.

The law requires a simple majority or 51 percent.

The PDP candidate won in 23 states, including 16 out of the 17 southern states and seven northern states of Kwara, Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa and Taraba and FCT.

He also scored 31 percent in 32 states and FCT, surpassing the constitutional requirement of at least a quarter of the votes cast in at least 24 states.

However, in Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Yobe, Jonathan did not meet the 25 percent requirement.

The CPC candidate, Buhari, won in 12 states, all in the north.

The states are Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger and Jigawa, Kebbi and Sokoto.

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He met the 25 percent requirement in 12 states, with Nasarawa and Taraba being the additional states even though he was not the winner there.

However, he scored less than 25 percent in 24 states, including all southern states and four northern states of Kogi, Kwara, Benue and Plateau.

The candidate of the ACN, Ribadu, won in only one state, Osun, while that of the ANPP, Shekarau, did not win in any state.

Shekarau did not meet the 25 percent requirement in any state.

"That Goodluck. E Jonathan of PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is return elected," Jega said at the end of the results collation in the capital Abuja.

Jonathan took over the presidency after his predecessor Umaru Yar A'dua died last year. Jonathan is a southerner from the oil-rich Niger Delta.

The presidential election was the fourth in the Africa's most populous country since the return to civil rule in 1999.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has called on Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain its standards and step up efforts preparatory to the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.

Alojz Peterle, chief observer of the mission, made the call at a news conference marking the presentation of its preliminary statement on Monday in Abuja.

He said the findings of the 141 observers showed that almost all the polling units opened timely, adding that the atmosphere was predominantly peaceful and calm.

Similarly, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Observation Mission on Sunday in Abuja said the presidential election of Nigeria met the criteria of fairness and transparency and commended the electoral body for its leadership and professionalism.

Head of the mission Amos Sawyer in a preliminary declaration on the polls also commended the federal government and stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful and orderly election.

He called on all candidates in the race to accept the outcome of the polls.