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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Nigeria election verdict expected | Nigeria election verdict expected |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A Nigerian judge has started to deliver his ruling on whether President Umaru Yar'Adua's election should be annulled. | |
| Opposition candidates have alleged last year's vote did not take place in many states and that the incumbent People's Democratic Party rigged the vote. | Opposition candidates have alleged last year's vote did not take place in many states and that the incumbent People's Democratic Party rigged the vote. |
| International observers said the April polls fell short of expected standards. | International observers said the April polls fell short of expected standards. |
| But the government says the opposition's case is weak and the five-judge panel should rule in favour of President Yar'Adua. | But the government says the opposition's case is weak and the five-judge panel should rule in favour of President Yar'Adua. |
| The case is likely to go to the Supreme Court for the final decision. | The case is likely to go to the Supreme Court for the final decision. |
| Security has been tight in the capital, Abuja, ahead of the ruling. | Security has been tight in the capital, Abuja, ahead of the ruling. |
| Rigging claims | Rigging claims |
| Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election. They are calling for a re-run. | Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election. They are calling for a re-run. |
| What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion Mobolanji Adebiyi,presidential spokesman Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the vote should be nullified because the ballot papers were delivered on the day of the election and were missing serial numbers. | What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion Mobolanji Adebiyi,presidential spokesman Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the vote should be nullified because the ballot papers were delivered on the day of the election and were missing serial numbers. |
| Mr Abubakar fought a long legal battle before the election to be included on the ballot after he fell out with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the latter stages of his final term. | Mr Abubakar fought a long legal battle before the election to be included on the ballot after he fell out with then-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the latter stages of his final term. |
| The result was the ballot papers had to be re-printed at short notice in South Africa, the court has heard. | The result was the ballot papers had to be re-printed at short notice in South Africa, the court has heard. |
| They did not reach polling stations in many parts of the country until after the election. | They did not reach polling stations in many parts of the country until after the election. |
| The lack of serial numbers also rendered any result inadmissible, Mr Abubakar's lawyers claimed. | The lack of serial numbers also rendered any result inadmissible, Mr Abubakar's lawyers claimed. |
| Inflated results | Inflated results |
| Gen Muhammadu Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, says the ballot did not take place in 29 of the 31 states. | Gen Muhammadu Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, says the ballot did not take place in 29 of the 31 states. |
| We have faith the judges will give us a good ruling, and in any case we don't believe there will be violence after the decision is announced Emma Esau,Alliance for Credible Elections His lawyers also unearthed records from Nigeria's election regulator that appeared to show the results had been artificially inflated between the tallying station and being announced. | We have faith the judges will give us a good ruling, and in any case we don't believe there will be violence after the decision is announced Emma Esau,Alliance for Credible Elections His lawyers also unearthed records from Nigeria's election regulator that appeared to show the results had been artificially inflated between the tallying station and being announced. |
| But lawyers for the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) claim their evidence is weak. | But lawyers for the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) claim their evidence is weak. |
| "The law requires the case to be obvious," Barrister Kanu Agibe told the court at its last sitting this month. | "The law requires the case to be obvious," Barrister Kanu Agibe told the court at its last sitting this month. |
| "The fact that the petitioner has filed a 600-page document summing up his case shows it is not obvious." | "The fact that the petitioner has filed a 600-page document summing up his case shows it is not obvious." |
| The election was widely condemned in the press. | The election was widely condemned in the press. |
| Thugs broke up polling stations in many areas. Problems with organisation meant polling stations opened very late or not at all. | Thugs broke up polling stations in many areas. Problems with organisation meant polling stations opened very late or not at all. |
| But presidential spokesman Mobolanji Adebiyi said the judges would rule on what was in front of them, not on the reports in the international or local press. | But presidential spokesman Mobolanji Adebiyi said the judges would rule on what was in front of them, not on the reports in the international or local press. |
| "What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion." | "What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion." |
| Civil society | Civil society |
| Many civil society organisations have growing faith in the judiciary to give an impartial ruling. | Many civil society organisations have growing faith in the judiciary to give an impartial ruling. |
| Seven state governors have had their elections overturned by tribunals. | Seven state governors have had their elections overturned by tribunals. |
| On Saturday a court also annulled the election of Senate President David Mark. | On Saturday a court also annulled the election of Senate President David Mark. |
| If the presidential election is annulled, he would have taken over during the 90-day period before fresh elections are required to be held. | If the presidential election is annulled, he would have taken over during the 90-day period before fresh elections are required to be held. |
| "We have faith the judges will give us a good ruling, and in any case we don't believe there will be violence after the decision is announced. This will not take Nigeria to the brink," said Emma Esau, of the Alliance for Credible Elections. | "We have faith the judges will give us a good ruling, and in any case we don't believe there will be violence after the decision is announced. This will not take Nigeria to the brink," said Emma Esau, of the Alliance for Credible Elections. |