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Call for Nigeria election re-run Call for Nigeria election re-run
(about 3 hours later)
Nigeria's biggest election monitoring group has said that Saturday's presidential poll was so flawed that it should be scrapped and held again. Nigeria's biggest election monitoring group has said Saturday's presidential poll was so flawed that it should be scrapped and held again.
Transition Monitoring Group chief, Innocent Chukwuma, said a winner could not be announced on the basis of results from just half of the country. The Transition Monitoring Group said a winner could not be announced on the basis of results from half the country.
Voting was marred by violence in which several people died. There was also an attempt to blow up the election HQ.Voting was marred by violence in which several people died. There was also an attempt to blow up the election HQ.
Ballot delivery failures delayed the poll and some ballot boxes were stolen. Voting dragged into a second day in four states where ballot papers arrived late, officials said.
"In many parts of the country elections did not start on time or did not start at all," Mr Chukwuma told Reuters news agency. The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) had earlier said that voting would not be extended into Sunday, despite the fact that ballot delivery failures delayed the poll and some ballot boxes were stolen.
"In many parts of the country elections did not start on time or did not start at all," Transition Monitoring Group chief, Innocent Chukwuma, told Reuters news agency.
He said the official electoral commission had not been properly prepared for the vote.He said the official electoral commission had not been properly prepared for the vote.
Relief for those who vote At the polls: Reporters' log The head of the European Union monitoring mission, Max van den Berg, said he feared there had been no improvement on last week's regional polls, which were marred by 50 deaths and widespread fraud.Relief for those who vote At the polls: Reporters' log The head of the European Union monitoring mission, Max van den Berg, said he feared there had been no improvement on last week's regional polls, which were marred by 50 deaths and widespread fraud.
Twenty-four candidates are seeking to replace outgoing President Obasanjo in Africa's most populous nation.Twenty-four candidates are seeking to replace outgoing President Obasanjo in Africa's most populous nation.
The presidential poll was running alongside elections for the National Assembly and Senate.The presidential poll was running alongside elections for the National Assembly and Senate.
Election officials hope to publish results by Monday night.Election officials hope to publish results by Monday night.
The new government is scheduled to take power on 29 May.The new government is scheduled to take power on 29 May.
CutlassesCutlasses
Officials had struggled to deliver some of the 60m ballot papers to stations ahead of opening time. Officials had struggled to deliver some of the 60m ballot papers to stations in time for the vote.
NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders:
  • Atiku Abubakar for the AC, 60-years-old
  • Muhammadu Buhari, ANPP, 64
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, PDP, 55
    • Polls open 1000-1700 (local time) (0900-1600 GMT) To avoid a run-off, a candidate needs highest number of votes overall and at least 25% of votes in 24 of the 36 states Candidates' profiles    		 NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders:
  • Atiku Abubakar for the AC, 60-years-old
  • Muhammadu Buhari, ANPP, 64
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, PDP, 55
    • To avoid a run-off, a candidate needs highest number of votes overall and at least 25% of votes in 24 of the 36 states Candidates' profiles
    In the central state of Nassarawa, close to the capital, Abuja, a number of policemen were killed while escorting election officials with the papers.In the central state of Nassarawa, close to the capital, Abuja, a number of policemen were killed while escorting election officials with the papers.
    Police fired on crowds in the northern state of Katsina, the home state of both the governing party candidate, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and one of his main opponents, Muhammadu Buhari.Police fired on crowds in the northern state of Katsina, the home state of both the governing party candidate, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and one of his main opponents, Muhammadu Buhari.
    Four people were killed in clashes there after only half the voting papers arrived.Four people were killed in clashes there after only half the voting papers arrived.
    In nearby Kano, men armed with cutlasses and guns stole ballot boxes while in Onde state, in the south-west, men disguised as policemen abducted election officials.In nearby Kano, men armed with cutlasses and guns stole ballot boxes while in Onde state, in the south-west, men disguised as policemen abducted election officials.
    The boldest attempt to disrupt polling was on Friday when a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters in Abuja. The more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6579863.stm">Voters' views The boldest attempt to disrupt polling was on Friday when a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in an attack on the electoral commission's headquarters in Abuja.
    The attackers tried to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but the vehicle missed its target and came to a halt.The attackers tried to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but the vehicle missed its target and came to a halt.
    Street protest
    Mr Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power.
    The more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student Voters' views
    Speaking after voting, he said that "those who do not want these elections to take place, they have left no stone unturned to make sure it does not hold".
    Mr Buhari said no-one should claim victory because there were so many irregularities in polling.
    He said he would call his supporters out on to the streets if the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared victory.
    Rival opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar described the election as a "national tragedy".
    His Action Congress party accused the authorities of ensuring "inadequate supply of voting materials" in its strongholds.
    The voting in Nassarawa State has been very peaceful Dr Samuel Jimba in Keffi At the polls: Voters' log
    The BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says the comments show Nigeria could be in for some political turbulence as it seeks for the first time to replace one elected civilian head of state with another.
    Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East.Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East.
    But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty.But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty.
    Send us your voting experiences by texting +44 77 86 20 50 75. Don't forget to tell us your name and where you are.