By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria

Voting has closed across most polling stations in Nigeria's general elections amid a pocket of violence and ballot snatching in some parts of the country.

Police have so far confirmed five persons killed in oil rich Rivers, three killed in Delta, one in Edo, one in southwest Ibadan and two in southeast Ebonyi where ballot snatchers fired at voters and opponents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said elections have been rescheduled in parts of Anambra, Lagos and Rivers owing to violence and disruption of votes.

There are 73 registered candidates in the presidential election but the race is clearly between President Muhammadu Buhari's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People's Democratic Party whose candidate is Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president and multibillionaire businessman.

Vote counting has ended in several areas while results have begun to be tallied.

Early results across many polling units from Buhari's northern region show the president having appreciable lead -- although only the electoral body is licenced to declare results.

Official results are not expected until Tuesday morning.

The second leg of the general elections for governorship and houses of assembly will be held on March 9.

Leading observer group Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) alleged incidents of systemic vote buying.

The body also complained of few instances of the card readers malfunctioning or the officials being unable to properly operate them.

“On procedural matters, our observers have reported that in certain places, the secrecy of the ballot was not protected, and voters voted in full public view,” the body said.

There were also instances of poor distribution or mix up of voting materials, according to the group and many candidates.