LAGOS, March 3, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - The candidate of Nigeria's main opposition party called the victory of the ruling party's contender at presidential polls "a rape of democracy" on Thursday.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 6.9 million votes, behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress who polled over eight million votes, while Peter Obi of Labour came third with 6.1 million votes.

The election "was grossly flawed in every material particular and as such, must be challenged by all of us," Abubakar said, calling the electoral commission's publication of the results as they stand a "rape of democracy".

Abubakar said he was consulting lawyers to decide on his next steps.

"Our lawyers are studying the results of the election and we await their advice... and the party will meet and we'll decide the next line of action," he told journalists.

Saturday's election was Abubakar's sixth unsuccessful attempt at the presidency.