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Nigeria election verdict expected | Nigeria election verdict expected |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Nigerian judge has started to deliver his ruling on whether President Umaru Yar'Adua's election should be annulled. | 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, in the run-up to the ruling. | |
Rigging claims | Rigging claims |
Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election. | |
They are calling for a re-run - but not under the current rules and the "compromised" election commission. | |
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. |
His spokesman, Garba Shehu, said politicians could not be "trusted to correct themselves" and the courts had to do it. | |
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. | |
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 election was widely condemned in the press, but presidential spokesman Mobolanji Adebiyi said the judges would rule on what was in front of them, not on the media reports. | |
And Emma Esau, of the Alliance for Credible Elections, said Nigerians had "faith the judges will give us a good ruling". | |
"In any case we don't believe there will be violence after the decision is announced. This will not take Nigeria to the brink," she said. | |
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. |