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Nigeria poll petition dismissed | |
(9 minutes later) | |
A Nigerian judge has dismissed one of two opposition petitions asking that President Umaru Yar'Adua's election in April last year be annulled. | |
Opposition candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari had said the ballot did not take place in 29 of the 31 states. | |
A judge is still to rule on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar's claim that the incumbent People's Democratic Party rigged the vote. | |
International observers said the polls fell short of expected standards. | |
But the government has said both cases are 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. | 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 have been 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 | What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion Mobolanji Adebiyi,presidential spokesman |
Mr 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. | His spokesman, Garba Shehu, said politicians could not be "trusted to correct themselves" and the courts had to do it. |
Inflated results | Inflated results |
The judge ruled against Gen Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria. | |
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 | 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 |
Gen Buhari's lawyers had unearthed records from Nigeria's election regulator that appeared to show the results had been artificially inflated between the tallying station and being announced. | |
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. | 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". | 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. | "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. |