Accra, 22 April, GNA - Former President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home Tuesday night from Abuja, Nigeria, after leading a 40- member African Union observer mission to witness that country's presidential elections that was held on Saturday, 16 April, 2011.

A statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, Spokesperson, Office of the former President, copied GNA in Accra on Thursday, said incumbent Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, won the elections after attaining at least 25 per cent votes in two-thirds of the country's 36 states as required by law.

President Jonathan, who contested the polls on the ticket of the Peoples' Democratic Party, won more than 22 million votes, while former military leader, General Muhamadu Buhari of the Congress of Progressive

Change, who came second, attained more than 12 million votes. About 40 million Nigerians of about 73 million eligible voters, turned out

for Nigeria's third elections since returning to civilian rule in 1999.

Former President Kufuor commended Nigerians for the peaceful conduct of the elections, which according to him has earned the country praise from all quarters.

He appealed to all political leaders and stakeholders to help end the pockets of violence that have escalated in parts of Northern Nigeria and asked all aggrieved persons to use constitutional and other peaceful means to resolve their differences. Former President Kufuor said: 93Nigerians must uphold the integrity of

the nation at all times and not do anything that will distract you from

smooth conduct of the elections".