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Q&A: Nigeria presidential and legislative elections Q&A: Nigeria presidential election
(about 22 hours later)
24 presidential candidates are running in the election24 presidential candidates are running in the election
Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president and National Assembly members in the second round of elections.

 Nigerians go to the polls on Saturday to elect a new president a week after voting in a parliament election marred by violence and allegations of fraud.

This is the first time since independence in 1960 that power is being transferred from one civilian president to another in Africa's most populous nation.

This is the first time since independence in 1960 that power is being transferred from one civilian president to another in Africa's most populous nation.

Opposition parties and observer groups have called for the vote to be postponed. The opposition has threatened a boycott unless the electoral commission is disbanded and other conditions to ensure transparency are met.

 Opposition parties and observer groups have called for the vote to be postponed. The opposition threatened a boycott unless the electoral commission is disbanded and other conditions to ensure transparency are met. However, they resolved at the last minute to participate but to continue fighting in the courts.

What happened during the first round of voting?

 What are the main poll issues?

The first round of voting was held last Saturday for regional assemblies.

 Violence The campaign and last Saturday's vote saw killings, and fighting between supporters of rival parties. Many Nigerians fear further violence will take place during the polls. Violence and human-rights abuses were described as the "hallmark of Nigeria elections" in a joint report by Amnesty International and Nigerian organisations. Officials say they have taken measures to combat election violence.

Voting was delayed by four hours and several policemen were killed when violence erupted in the Niger Delta during the polling.

Voting irregularities Foreign observers have already said that polls may have to be rerun in several of Nigeria's 36 states. Last week's elections for state governors gave the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) control of at least 27 states, but were marred by allegations of widespread electoral fraud.

Three police stations were burnt down in Port Harcourt city and vans transporting election material were also set ablaze.

 Nigerian governors sit in the Senate, the upper house of the National Assembly. They have big budgets and huge powers.

The main opposition groups and local election observers said the results announced in 10 of Nigeria's 36 states did not reflect the will of the people and should be rejected. The EU also criticised the poll and said re-runs should be considered in several states.

 The government has banned political rallies following protests in many parts of the country and opposition parties said that the electoral process is now taking place in a climate of "national siege".

They said that most of the electoral staff were from the ruling PDP and that illegal polling stations had been set up where all the votes had been cast for the ruling party.

 Security There is a deteriorating security situation in the Niger Delta - Nigeria's economic powerhouse. The region's oil and gas riches provide about 90% of the country's foreign earnings. In February, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), an umbrella body of the major militant groups, issued a public statement threatening war.

Poverty There is concern over the scale of poverty across Nigeria, despite its position as Africa's leading oil producer.

How does the system work?

How does the system work?

The president and 36 state governors are elected directly for a maximum of two four-year terms. President Olusegun Obasanjo has already served his maximum term and is not in the presidential race.

The president and 36 state governors are elected directly for a maximum of two four-year terms. President Olusegun Obasanjo has already served his maximum term and is not in the presidential race.

There are 24 presidential candidates in this year's election, in which 46 registered political parties are participating.

To win, a candidate must receive the highest number of votes and at least one quarter of the votes in 24 of the 36 states.

To win, a candidate must receive the highest number of votes and at least one quarter of the votes in 24 of the 36 states.

If there is no clear winner, there will be a run-off between the candidate with the highest number of votes and one of the candidates who holds the majority votes in the most states.

If there is no clear winner, there will be a run-off between the candidate with the highest number of votes and one of the candidates who holds the majority votes in the most states.

Presidential election results are expected no sooner than 48 hours after polls close, according to Nigerian radio.

Presidential election results are expected no sooner than 48 hours after polls close, according to Nigerian radio.

What about the voters?

 To minimise the risk of fraud, electoral officers will count the votes and announce results immediately at each polling station in the presence of party representatives. Results will then be collated at local, state and federal levels.

Unlike the last poll in 2003, there has been little voter apathy in this year's elections.

There were long queues of voters in the first round but many found their names missing from the register.

All Nigerian citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. About 60 million voters have been registered by Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Polling stations will open for voting from 8.00am (local time) and will remain open until 3.00pm.

The commission has designated about 120,000 polling stations throughout the country's 36 states.

An average of three people will man each of the polling stations. There is also one supervisor to oversees every 10 polling stations

Who are the main presidential candidates?

There are 24 presidential candidates in this year's election, in which 46 registered political parties are participating.

Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is is running for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler who led Nigeria from January 1984 until August 1985 when he was deposed in a coup, is the candidate for the All Nigerian People's Party (ANPP).

Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress (AC) was President Obasanjo's deputy from 1999 until August 2006 when the president accused him of corruption and had him investigated. There is also the multi-millionaire governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu who is the candidate for the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA).

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, who led the failed Biafra secessionist movement in 1967, is the candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is composed mainly of younger-generation intellectuals, is fielding Prof. Patrick Utomi as its candidate.

What are the main poll issues?

1. Violence

Many Nigerians fear further violence will take place during the polls. Violence and human-rights abuses were described as the "hallmark of Nigeria elections" in a joint report by Amnesty International and Nigerian organizations. Officials say they have taken measures to combat election violence.

2. Security

There is deteriorating security situation in the Niger Delta - Nigeria's economic powerhouse. The region's oil and gas riches provide about 90 per cent of the country's foreign earnings. But militant youths, actively supported by the local people, have turned the entire mangrove creeks into a vast minefield. In February, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), an umbrella body of the major militant groups, issued a public statement threatening war.

3. Poverty

There is concern over the scale of poverty across Nigeria, despite its position as Africa's leading oil producer.

Are there any foreign observers?

Are there any foreign observers?

The Economic Community of West African States and the EU are monitoring the election. The Christian Association of Nigeria and Nigeria's Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs have also made 240,000 observers available.

 The Economic Community of West African States, the Commonwealth and the EU are monitoring the election. The Christian Association of Nigeria and Nigeria's Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs have also made 240,000 observers available.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.

BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.