Nigeria's Troubled Elections
Opposition Rejects Results of Voting Polls
Umaru Yar'Adua was declared the winner of Nigeria's recent elections but opposition leaders have already planned to challenge the result that observers called "flawed."
Umaru Yar'Adua, appears as though he will take over as leader of Africa's most populous nation on May 29 despite foreign monitors and the opposition's call that last weekend's election in Nigeria was the most fraudulent in the country's history. Even the current president, Olusegun Obasanjo, had to admit that voting was flawed but he asked that grievances be filed through the electoral tribunal.
Opposition parties are already planning to appeal the results in court. Muhammadu Buhari, one of the two main opposition leaders, spent two years contesting Obasanjo's previous victory in 2003. Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a statement on April 25 from Abuja declaring that the Nigerian government should not interfere with the legal process, adding that the elections were "badly flawed."
Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the other opposition candidate, said that the government should install an interim government for three months after May 29, during which time a more credible election could be held. European Union observers condemned the election saying they were "marred by serious irregularities" and blatant fraud in 11 states. South Africa, however, applauded Nigeria's successful elections and urged other African nations to follow in their footsteps.
Widespread abuses
Witnesses, including Associated Press (AP) reporters, claim to have observed widespread abuses to the democratic process. Apparently there were ballot shortages in opposition strongholds and clear ballot rigging favouring the ruling party not to mention the purchase of votes and the bribing of officials.
The local media also reported the presence of intimidating thugs with knives and guns. Monitoring groups also say that voting was not even held in many of Nigeria's 36 states.
Many have cited Umaru Yar'Adua's lack of political savoir-faire but also claim he was handpicked by Obasanjo so that the current president and former military ruler could continue to lead the nation vicariously. Obasanjo was leader of Nigeria from 1976 to 1979 and again from 1999 to present but Nigeria's constitution states that he must step down after his second term. This will be the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in Nigeria since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1960.
Meanwhile, amid fears of instability, on May 24, oil rose to $68 per barrel. Production is already suffering by 20 percent because of militant attacks in the Niger Delta on Western oil facilities. Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer and the world's sixth greatest oil exporter. Despite the tremendous wealth generated by oil, The Independent cites that 71 percent of Nigerians live on less than one dollar a day.
