Polling closes in Nigeria’s tightly fought presidential and parliamentary races

Vote largely peaceful in Africa's largest economy but half of polling stations opened late due to technical issues

Polls have shut in Nigeria, after tens of millions cast their votes to decide a tight and unpredictable contest for the presidency and parliament of Africa's most populous nation and its biggest economy.

The opening of more than half of all polling stations was delayed by at least an hour with many others suffering problems with new voting technology, civil society groups said. There was some sporadic violence across the country, including a suspected attack by Islamic extremists and some disruption by hired thugs.