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Nigeria poll petitions dismissed Nigeria poll petitions dismissed
(20 minutes later)
A Nigerian judge has dismissed both opposition petitions asking that President Umaru Yar'Adua's election last year be annulled. A Nigerian tribunal has dismissed both opposition petitions asking that President Umaru Yar'Adua's election last year be annulled.
Opposition candidate Gen Muhammadu Buhari had said the ballot did not take place in 29 of the 31 states. The panel of five judges unanimously rejected them, saying they did not contain enough evidence.
While former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had claimed that the incumbent People's Democratic Party had rigged the April vote. Lawyers for both losing presidential candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar, say they will take their cases to the Supreme Court.
International observers said the polls fell short of expected standards. International observers said the April 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 2007 polls saw the first transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Africa's biggest oil producer and most populous country.
What international observers must realise is that this will be judged on the evidence, not on their own opinion Mobolanji Adebiyi,Presidential spokesman From a political stability perspective, this is likely to be positive African economist Razia Khan
The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Nigeria courts have been exerting their independence - overturning other controversial results from the disputed elections.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.This is in part because the president himself has made obeying of the rule of law his public mantra, he says.
But Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega said both sides had failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate the election result.
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 claimsRigging claims
Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election - they have been calling for a re-run. "Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan remain validly elected as president and vice-president of Nigeria," the ruling said, AFP news agency reports.
The honeymoon ends Gen Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, was Mr Yar'Adua's main challenger. The honeymoon ends
Judge Abdulkadir Abubakar Jega said both sides had failed to prove that violations of the electoral law were substantial enough to invalidate the election result.
"From a political stability perspective, this is likely to be positive," African economist Razia Khan told Reuters news agency.
Neither opposition candidates claim they actually won the election - they had called for a re-run.
Gen Buhari, who also contested the previous election in 2003 and is a former military ruler of Nigeria, maintains the ballot did not take place in 29 of the 31 states.
His 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.His 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.
While Mr Abubakar had said the vote should be nullified because the ballot papers were delivered on the day of the election and were missing serial numbers. Long battle
Mr Abubakar had said the vote should be nullified because the ballot papers were delivered on the day of the election and were missing serial numbers.
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.
Before the ruling, his spokesman, Garba Shehu, said politicians could not be "trusted to correct themselves" and the courts had to do it. Before the ruling, his spokesman Garba Shehu said politicians could not be "trusted to correct themselves" and the courts had to do it.
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.
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.