Rain marks end of voting on historic day

It is now raining heavily in the capital, Abuja – the first time this year and symbolically marking the official end to voting.

Those who are superstitious are reading meanings into the rain, while those who stayed around during the sorting of ballots at polling stations have scuttled for cover.

It has been an eventful day with security fears and logistical problems being blamed for delays to voting – people are still in queues in some parts of the country.

Some images sum up the enthusiasm of young voters, like the bride who turned up to vote in her wedding dress:

Social embed from twitter

Amid violence at a polling station in Lagos state, a woman was stabbed but later returned to vote with her patched up face to cheers from other voters.

All eyes will now be on the central collation centre here in Abuja where the results from the hundreds of thousands of polling units will be sent – it is likely to be a slow process.

There will now be a nail-biting wait for the outcome of the most competitive presidential election since the end of military rule.