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Nigerian political parties allege poll rigging

Opposition to challenge in court election results

LAGOS (Nigeria): The two leading Opposition parties on Sunday denounced the conduct of Nigeria's presidential elections, and one said it would likely launch a court challenge to the vote meant to cement civilian rule.

Turnout appeared low for Saturday's presidential vote, which was marked by ballot-paper shortages in Opposition strongholds, intimidation by thugs and open rigging favouring the ruling party of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Neither of the two main Opposition parties rejected the vote outright, saying they were waiting for full information from around the vast nation, but they described the exercise in disparaging terms.

``Some voting has taken place, but there was no election,'' said Abba Kyari, a spokesman for the party of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, considered one of the two top Opposition candidates.

A spokesman for the party of Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who fell out with Mr. Obasanjo last year and is contesting the presidency as an Opposition candidate, said the party would very likely challenge the results in court.

Electoral officials weren't immediately available for comment on Sunday.

Electoral Commission Chairman Maurice Iwu on Saturday acknowledged some problems with the vote, including in a large swathe of the country's southeast, where voting started late or not at all. But he said the election had ``gone smoothly, despite some problems.''

Mr. Obasanjo on Saturday hailed the vote as a major step forward for democracy in Nigeria. Despite disorder and confusion at many voting centres, there were few immediate reports of the widescale violence that has plagued the electoral period, raising hopes that power can be transferred from one elected civilian President to another for the first time in the coup-prone 47-year history of the country.

Nigeria's mass daily Vanguard reported that 16 policemen died during Saturday's vote. Competition for government revenues flowing from the oil industry means Nigerian political seats are hotly — and often violently — contested. — AP

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