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| Nigeria parties mull poll boycott | Nigeria parties mull poll boycott |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Nigeria opposition party leaders are due to discuss whether to boycott Saturday's presidential election. | Nigeria opposition party leaders are due to discuss whether to boycott Saturday's presidential election. |
| They want the election to be postponed, saying the election commission is biased in favour of the ruling party. | They want the election to be postponed, saying the election commission is biased in favour of the ruling party. |
| But the government has said the election will go ahead as planned. The opposition is believed to be split on the idea of a boycott. | But the government has said the election will go ahead as planned. The opposition is believed to be split on the idea of a boycott. |
| Last week's state elections were marred by violent clashes and cases of vote rigging, mostly in the oil-rich south. | Last week's state elections were marred by violent clashes and cases of vote rigging, mostly in the oil-rich south. |
| See state results | See state results |
| The ruling party won 26 of the 33 state contests declared. Two elections were postponed because of irregularities. | The ruling party won 26 of the 33 state contests declared. Two elections were postponed because of irregularities. |
| Tension was further heightened this week when armed Islamists seized a police station near the northern city of Kano, leading to more than 30 deaths. | Tension was further heightened this week when armed Islamists seized a police station near the northern city of Kano, leading to more than 30 deaths. |
| Protest call | Protest call |
| Opposition sources say one of the candidates, Muhammadu Buhari, does not support a boycott. | Opposition sources say one of the candidates, Muhammadu Buhari, does not support a boycott. |
| You have to do all you can to collect some water before the electricity goes off... it's not a tea party Edith ObetaPetty trader, Kagadama Water wars in arid north | |
| The other main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is believed to support the boycott call. | The other main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is believed to support the boycott call. |
| His participation in the poll was only confirmed on Tuesday by the election commission, after a Supreme Court ruling on Monday. | His participation in the poll was only confirmed on Tuesday by the election commission, after a Supreme Court ruling on Monday. |
| The Independent National Election Commission (Inec) had disqualified him because of charges of corruption, which he denies. | The Independent National Election Commission (Inec) had disqualified him because of charges of corruption, which he denies. |
| Mr Buhari had called for an opposition alliance against the People's Democratic Party's Umaru Yar'Adua but neither man seems willing to step down. | Mr Buhari had called for an opposition alliance against the People's Democratic Party's Umaru Yar'Adua but neither man seems willing to step down. |
| In a statement on Tuesday night, 18 of the main parties demanded that the elections on Saturday be delayed and threatened a boycott unless several conditions were met. | In a statement on Tuesday night, 18 of the main parties demanded that the elections on Saturday be delayed and threatened a boycott unless several conditions were met. |
| However, Inec lawyer Joe-Kyari Gagzama said the election could not legally be delayed after a high court ruling two weeks ago. | However, Inec lawyer Joe-Kyari Gagzama said the election could not legally be delayed after a high court ruling two weeks ago. |
| He also said the tenure of most of those in office expires on 29 May. | He also said the tenure of most of those in office expires on 29 May. |
| Things have to change Hadiza HarunaHousewife, Kagadama href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5967&edition=2&ttl=20070404114051">Send us your comments | |
| The opposition parties also urged Nigerians to "protest in a non-violent manner these sham elections so far held, and to resist further elections under the current structure". | |
| The opposition said the electoral commission was under the control of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo. | The opposition said the electoral commission was under the control of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo. |
| Apart from attempting to discredit the elections, many observers question what the opposition would achieve by boycotting. | Apart from attempting to discredit the elections, many observers question what the opposition would achieve by boycotting. |
| Many Nigerians fear further violence on Saturday, which should lead to the first handover of power in Africa's most populous nation from one civilian administration to another. | Many Nigerians fear further violence on Saturday, which should lead to the first handover of power in Africa's most populous nation from one civilian administration to another. |
| President Obasanjo is standing down after two terms in office. | President Obasanjo is standing down after two terms in office. |
| Click to return | Click to return |