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PDP wins Nigerian state election | PDP wins Nigerian state election |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Nigeria's governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) has narrowly won a disputed re-run election for the post of governor in south-western Ekiti state. | |
Turnout was said to be low, amid tight security. An earlier re-run of the vote last week crumbled amid claims of fraud, violence and intimidation. | Turnout was said to be low, amid tight security. An earlier re-run of the vote last week crumbled amid claims of fraud, violence and intimidation. |
Furious opposition leaders cried foul and vowed to challenge the result in a state they regard as a stronghold. | |
The original poll two years ago was won by the candidate of the governing PDP. | The original poll two years ago was won by the candidate of the governing PDP. |
But Segun Oni was thrown out of office and the result overturned as it became mired in allegations of mass vote fraud. | |
Election rage | Election rage |
The BBC's Caroline Duffield, in the region, says the latest outcome means he will now return to office. | The BBC's Caroline Duffield, in the region, says the latest outcome means he will now return to office. |
Heavily-armed police and soldiers were out in force in the state capital of Oye Ekiti, where Tuesday's vote took place. | Heavily-armed police and soldiers were out in force in the state capital of Oye Ekiti, where Tuesday's vote took place. |
Our correspondent says opposition supporters were enraged as the electoral commissioner declared victory for the PDP by a slender margin of 4,000 votes. | |
Several dozen men in the crowded hall shouted the commissioner down. | |
Opposition Action Congress governorship candidate Kayode Fayemi said later the result was a "travesty" and his party would challenge it in court. | |
"Our ballot boxes were snatched in daylight, our monitors were beaten up," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | |
Our correspondent says both parties have traded accusations of hiring thugs to intimidate people, bribing election officials and rigging votes. | |
The electoral commissioner was supposed to announce poll results last week after the initial re-run but refused to do so, alleging fraud, and temporarily went into hiding. | |
Her actions sparked angry demonstrations, involving women marching half-naked in the streets in anger. | Her actions sparked angry demonstrations, involving women marching half-naked in the streets in anger. |
The poll was seen as strategically important for both parties. | The poll was seen as strategically important for both parties. |
Our correspondent says the PDP had hoped to prevent Action Congress winning a stronghold that could unite with the east of the country to challenge the governing party. | |
Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has said the situation in Ekiti underlines the need for urgent reform of Nigeria's election system, with the country's next general elections looming in 2011. | Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has said the situation in Ekiti underlines the need for urgent reform of Nigeria's election system, with the country's next general elections looming in 2011. |