The runner up rejected what he called the “the most blatantly rigged election results ever produced in Nigeria,” but did not call for public protests.

As was widely expected, Electoral Commission Chairman Maurice Iwu said Umaru Yar’Adua, the 56-year old Muslim governor of northern Katsina state and candidate of departing President Olusegun Obasanjo’s People’s Democratic Party, won in a landslide.

“Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of PDP, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and is duly elected,” Iwu told reporters. Elected vice president was Goodluck Jonathan, a governor from an oil-rich southern state. Iwu said Yar’Adua won about 24.6 million votes, more than three times the number garnered by the runner up, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in Saturday’s vote. Some 61 million Nigerians registered to vote. Iwu didn’t give turnout figures.

Nigeria’s main political parties have rejected the vote as fraudulent and international and local observer groups reported widespread irregularities. The European Union observer mission said Monday the vote wasn’t credible, and the U.S. government called it flawed.

Asked on state television if he had expected to win, Yar’Adua’s entourage broke into raucous laughter. The usually somber Yar’Adua, though, allowed only a tight smile and said: “I did because my party is strong. We enjoy the goodwill of Nigerians.”

“I felt gratitude toward the almighty,” said Yar’Adua, a Muslim. “I felt greatly humbled by the events of today and this mandate, greatly humbled.”

In a nationwide address ahead of Monday’s announcement, Obasanjo, who had been barred form running by term limits after two terms in power, accused the political opposition of “fanning the embers of hate” and engaging in “outright subversive activities.”

Oil prices rose Monday as traders worried about the political mood in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer. Though the election was largely peaceful, traders said there were fears that the results could lead to further tensions.

A widespread violent reaction appeared unlikely, though. While Nigerians express frustration with the state of their democracy, their disillusionment and cynicism — and fear of the still-influential security forces — were likely to mute their response.

In his television address, Obasanjo acknowledged that the vote had been flawed, but said Nigerians were nonetheless devoted to democracy. He said any losers should redress any grievances through the courts.

One of the two main opposition parties has already said it would challenge the results in court.

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