NIGERIA: Nigerians head to the polls to choose powerful state governors amid fears of a resurgence of violence

Record ID: 234657

  • Title: NIGERIA: Nigerians head to the polls to choose powerful state governors amid fears of a resurgence of violence
  • Date: 27th April 2011
  • Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (APRIL 26, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOTERS AT POLLING STATION BABATUNDE FASHOLA, GOVERNOR LAGOS STATE SHAKING HANDS WITH VOTERS VOTERS WATCHING THEIR GOVERNOR VARIOUS OF VOTERS CASTING THEIR VOTES BABATUNDE FASHOLA CASTING HIS VOTE OLD LADE CASTING HER VOTE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BABATUNDE FASHOLA, GOVERNOR LAGOS, STATE, SAYING: "INEC has tried to improve on previous experiences, previous outings but for me life is an ongoing process for increasing renewal." VARIOUS OF VOTERS AT POLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) TRADER IN LAGOS, SAYING: "That is not good, we don't want them to continue fighting, we want them to stop fighting, anybody that has is in (already won elections) we should leave him (let him be)." VARIOUS OF VOTE COUNTING AT POLLING STATIONS WITH VOTERS WATCHING CLOSELY OTUOKE, NIGERIA (APRIL 26, 2011) (REUTERS) VOTERS AT POLLING STATION IN THE HOME VILLAGE OF PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ELECTION OFFICIAL SEATED PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND HIS WIFE PATIENCE ARRIVING TO VOTE JONATHAN CASTING HIS VOTE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GOODLUCK JONATHAN, SAYING: "If by 29th of April we are unable to conduct an election in any state (northern states where elections were postponed due to violence) then, by law we can not conduct elections again until after inauguration because you need thirty days. In that case we have no choice than to declare state of emergency even if there is peace." VOTERS CASTING THEIR VOTES VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO STEAL BALLOT BOXES (SOUNDBITE) (English) TIMOTHY ANTIGHA, MILITARY SPOKESPERSON, SAYING: "We arrested security personnel and three civilians who were camped in one compound in Torugbene in Bayelsa state and we had reasons to believe that they were being gathered there for illegal purposes, because they have no official authority to be where they were, and from hindsight we were very confident that they had gathered to disrupt or be used to disrupt the peaceful conduct of elections, so we had to storm there to prevent election malpractice." VOTERS CASTING THEIR VOTES.
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria, Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3OZ4N1V0FEZS53E6RYOLRRES4
  • Story Text: Nigeria headed to the polls on Tuesday (April 26) to choose powerful state governors amid fears of a resurgence of the violence that left hundreds dead after a presidential election earlier this month.
    Tuesday's vote is the last stage of an election process that while considered to have been the fairest in decades has not escaped the unrest long associated with Nigerian politics.
    Babatunde Fashola, governor of Lagos and candidate commended the work done by country's Independent National Electoral Commission so far.
    "The INEC has tried to improve on previous experiences, previous outings but for me life is an ongoing process for increasing renewal," he said.
    In the federal parliament polls earlier this month, few voters could name their candidates and turnout was low. There was more enthusiasm at the presidential election a week later, but the debate on the street was around personalities rather than policies.
    This month's elections have already been an emotional rollercoaster for the 73 million registered voters in Nigeria, which -- until 10 days ago -- had failed to hold a single credible election since the end of military rule in 1999.
    Hundreds were feared dead after violence erupted in the mostly Muslim north last week after Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian, was declared winner by a wide margin of an April 16 presidential election.
    Shade Eletu, a trader based in Lagos said she was glad to vote on Tuesday but urged those carrying out attacks in the north of the country to seek better ways of solving their grievances.
    "That is not good, we don't want them to continue fighting, we want them to stop fighting," she said.
    Supporters of his northern opponent Muhammadu Buhari rejected the results and took to the streets, burning churches, mosques and homes to the ground.
    Tens of thousands of displaced people are sheltering in army barracks where they are being looked after by aid agencies.
    Tuesday's vote has been delayed by two days in the northern states of Kaduna and Bauchi, two of the worst-hit areas.
    President Goodluck Jonathan who voted in his rural village of Otuoke in the Niger Delta said that should elections fail to be held in the on time in the two states, government would have to declare a state of emergency since there would be no legitimate leadership in place.
    "If by 29th of April we are unable to conduct an election in any state then, by law we can not conduct elections again until after inauguration because you need thirty days. In that case we have no choice than to declare state of emergency even if there is peace," said Jonathan.
    There were signs that voters were cautious in other areas hard hit by violence, including in the ancient northern city of Kano, where some election organisers chose to stay indoors.
    There were outbreaks of unrest in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where six people were arrested attempting to steal ballot boxes in Rivers state, and opposition party members made accusations of political thuggery in areas of President Goodluck Jonathan's home state of Bayelsa, where there were also arrests.
    Military spokesperson Timothy Antigha said his forces had stormed into a compound where six police officers and three civilians were camped planning to steal ballot boxes.
    "We arrested security personnel and three civilians who were camped in one compound in Torugbene in Bayelsa state and we had reasons to believe that they were being gathered there for illegal purposes," said Antigha.
    The vote is expected to be fiercely fought as the 36 state governors are some of Nigeria's most powerful politicians, wielding influence at the national level and controlling budgets in some cases larger than those of small African nations.
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