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Nigerian poll boycott scuppered Opposition contest Nigerian polls
(20 minutes later)
Nigerian presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari will not boycott Saturday's elections, his party says, splitting an opposition alliance. Nigeria's two main opposition presidential candidates will not boycott Saturday's polls and will run individually, their parties have said.
The All Nigeria People's Party chairman said as "true and patriotic democrats" they did not want to play into the hands of the ruling party. It scuppers the idea of the opposition uniting behind one candidate.
Earlier, the government rejected an opposition call for a postponement. Atiku Abubakar's spokesman said Muhammadu Buhari's party, which took the decision not to boycott, had "crashed the alliance".
Last week's state elections were marred by violent clashes and cases of vote rigging, mostly in the oil-rich south. Earlier, the government rejected an opposition call for a postponement after last week's flawed state polls.
See state resultsSee state results
There were violent clashes and cases of vote rigging, mostly in the oil-rich south.
The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) won 27 of the 34 state contests declared. Two elections were postponed because of irregularities.The ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) won 27 of the 34 state contests declared. Two elections were postponed because of irregularities.
In the northern city of Kano, the military says it is continuing to clear a group of Islamic militants away from the Panshekara district on the outskirts of the city after two days of clashes, which have left at least 38 people dead. The BBC's Will Ross in the capital, Abuja, says the move will come as welcome news for the governing PDP as it will split the opposition vote.
The BBC's Alex Last in Kano say the incident may not be directly linked to the elections, but it was certainly timed to have maximum affect, given that the country is in the midst of political turmoil ahead of Saturday's polls.
Split
The boycott had been favoured by the other main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC) party.
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 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
"We shall not boycott. I repeat, we shall not boycott and we will participate fully in the National Assembly elections and the presidential elections," said ANPP chairman Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, who is also Mr Buhari's running mate. The governing party is also well aware that had the opposition boycotted the election, the entire legitimacy of the polls would have been brought into question, he says.
Opposition politicians accuse the governing party of trying to rig the election and suggest the electoral commission is far from independent.
The PDP says the opposition is crying foul because it knows it will lose Saturday's presidential and legislative elections.
Split
The boycott had been favoured by the Mr Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC) party.
"We shall not boycott. I repeat, we shall not boycott and we will participate fully in the National Assembly elections and the presidential elections," said All Nigeria People's Party chairman Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, who is also Mr Buhari's running mate.
"The party has decided that as true and patriotic democrats, we do not want to unconsciously become tools in the hands of the PDP-led government in their tenure elongation programme.""The party has decided that as true and patriotic democrats, we do not want to unconsciously become tools in the hands of the PDP-led government in their tenure elongation programme."
Mr Buhari had called for an opposition alliance against the PDP's Umaru Yar'Adua but neither he nor Mr Abubakar seems willing to step aside for the other. Things have to change Hadiza HarunaHousewife, Kagadama class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5967&edition=2&ttl=20070404114051">Send us your comments
Mr Abubakar's participation in the poll was only confirmed on Tuesday by the election commission, after a Supreme Court ruling on Monday.Mr Abubakar's 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.
On Tuesday night, 18 of the main parties demanded that the elections 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.
He also said the tenure of most of those in office expires on 29 May.
Things have to change Hadiza HarunaHousewife, Kagadama 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.
Apart from attempting to discredit the elections, many observers had questioned 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. Meanwhile, in the northern city of Kano, the military says it is continuing to clear a group of Islamic militants away from the Panshekara district on the outskirts of the city after two days of clashes, which have left at least 38 people dead.
Gun battle
Our correspondent says after Tuesday's all-day gun battle, the Panshekara area of Kano is now quiet.
More violence is feared in this week's pollsIt is not clear if the militants are still together or have just melted away into the outlying areas of scrubland, dotted with low-build houses and acacia trees, he says.
The Nigerian commander said many militants had been killed, but there has been no independent confirmation of the figures. At least 12 policemen were killed.
Residents said the militants had numbered up to 300, including women and children.
They are believed to be part of a radical Islamic group which had come en masse to avenge the assassination of a hardline cleric killed in a Kano mosque last Friday.
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