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Nigeria poll petition dismissed Nigeria poll petition dismissed
(30 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.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.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.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.International observers said the polls fell short of expected standards.
The 2007 polls saw the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Africa's biggest oil producer and most populous country.
The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Nigeria courts have been exerting their independence - overturning other controversial results from the disputed elections.
This is in part because the president himself has made obeying of the rule of law his public mantra, he says.
But our correspondent says a ruling against the president would send a volatile country into unchartered political territory.
Rigging claims
The government has said both cases are weak and the five-judge panel should rule in favour of President Yar'Adua.The government has said both cases are weak and the five-judge panel should rule in favour of President Yar'Adua.
They are likely to go to the Supreme Court for the final decision. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7118027.stm">The honeymoon ends
Whoever loses Tuesday's ruling 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
Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega ruled that Gen Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate the overall result.Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega ruled that Gen Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate the overall result.
What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion Mobolanji Adebiyi,Presidential spokesman
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.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.
Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election - they have been calling for a re-run.Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election - they have been calling for a re-run.
Overturned
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 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
The former vice-president 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 former vice-president 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.
Overturned
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.
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
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.