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| U.S., Britain fear possible ‘political interference’ in Nigerian election | U.S., Britain fear possible ‘political interference’ in Nigerian election |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| KADUNA, Nigeria — The United States and Britain said Monday that Nigeria's election results “may be subject to deliberate political interference,” a harsh warning issued just as the official count began to trickle in. | |
| The joint statement from Secretary of State John F. Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond there were “disturbing indications” that such interference had marred Saturday’s bitterly contested race. | The joint statement from Secretary of State John F. Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond there were “disturbing indications” that such interference had marred Saturday’s bitterly contested race. |
| The final results are expected Monday or Tuesday. The country’s election commission began releasing its state-by-state tally on Monday afternoon. The vote marks a pivotal moment for Africa’s largest democracy and the region as a whole. | The final results are expected Monday or Tuesday. The country’s election commission began releasing its state-by-state tally on Monday afternoon. The vote marks a pivotal moment for Africa’s largest democracy and the region as a whole. |
| Many worry that an election perceived as fraudulent could lead to violence, in a reprise of events that occurred after the 2011 vote, when hundreds were killed in the northern state of Kaduna, where voters split between the two main parties. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said voting had been “largely peaceful and orderly.” | Many worry that an election perceived as fraudulent could lead to violence, in a reprise of events that occurred after the 2011 vote, when hundreds were killed in the northern state of Kaduna, where voters split between the two main parties. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said voting had been “largely peaceful and orderly.” |
| [Read: Who are the two candidates running to become the president of Nigeria?] | [Read: Who are the two candidates running to become the president of Nigeria?] |
| The theme of the election was woven throughout Yohanna Buru’s Palm Sunday sermon at Christ Evangelical Church. He knew that in Kaduna, violence could emerge along a religious fault line, just as in 2011, when mosques and churches were attacked. | The theme of the election was woven throughout Yohanna Buru’s Palm Sunday sermon at Christ Evangelical Church. He knew that in Kaduna, violence could emerge along a religious fault line, just as in 2011, when mosques and churches were attacked. |
| “As they conclude the election, we pray for peace,” he told his congregation, which sat under a large white tent. | “As they conclude the election, we pray for peace,” he told his congregation, which sat under a large white tent. |
| The results of Saturday’s poll are expected Monday, but glitches in the electoral process could delay the announcement. | The results of Saturday’s poll are expected Monday, but glitches in the electoral process could delay the announcement. |
| [Read: 4 reasons you should care about Nigeria’s election] | [Read: 4 reasons you should care about Nigeria’s election] |
| On Sunday, supporters of opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator, staged a protest in the southern state of Rivers, alleging that election officials there had colluded with the ruling party to rig the election. The head of the election commission, Attahiru Jega, said he was “concerned” about the allegations. | On Sunday, supporters of opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator, staged a protest in the southern state of Rivers, alleging that election officials there had colluded with the ruling party to rig the election. The head of the election commission, Attahiru Jega, said he was “concerned” about the allegations. |
| The election was delayed by six weeks to make room for a multinational counteroffensive against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. But while that operation appears to have been successful, it will be up to the next president — Buhari or the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan — to root out the militants from their rural hideouts. The group been waging a insurgency for about six years. | The election was delayed by six weeks to make room for a multinational counteroffensive against the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. But while that operation appears to have been successful, it will be up to the next president — Buhari or the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan — to root out the militants from their rural hideouts. The group been waging a insurgency for about six years. |
| Crucial economic challenges lie ahead, too, as the price of oil, which has for years buoyed the country’s economy, falls, and Nigeria’s institutions remain plagued by corruption. | Crucial economic challenges lie ahead, too, as the price of oil, which has for years buoyed the country’s economy, falls, and Nigeria’s institutions remain plagued by corruption. |
| For now, both sides in the race are adamant that their candidate won. | For now, both sides in the race are adamant that their candidate won. |
| At a site where ballots were counted Saturday, Ayok Daadanboy, a representative of Buhari’s party, was so pleased with the results from his corner of Kaduna that he left to buy a bottle of champagne. | At a site where ballots were counted Saturday, Ayok Daadanboy, a representative of Buhari’s party, was so pleased with the results from his corner of Kaduna that he left to buy a bottle of champagne. |
| “The celebration is going to be huge,” he said. | “The celebration is going to be huge,” he said. |
| A few miles away, in a Christian neighborhood where Jonathan supporters dominate, people spoke with the same confidence. | A few miles away, in a Christian neighborhood where Jonathan supporters dominate, people spoke with the same confidence. |
| “It’s impossible that Goodluck will lose,” said Justin Daniel, a university student. | “It’s impossible that Goodluck will lose,” said Justin Daniel, a university student. |
| Although both candidates signed a “peace pact,” pledging to avoid post-election violence, some of their supporters have suggested that things could devolve. | Although both candidates signed a “peace pact,” pledging to avoid post-election violence, some of their supporters have suggested that things could devolve. |
| “The pact was just ceremonious,” said Abdullahi Bayaro, a trader. “We can see on social media that the [All Progressives Congress] will win. If they don’t, there will be chaos,” he added, referring to Buhari’s party. | “The pact was just ceremonious,” said Abdullahi Bayaro, a trader. “We can see on social media that the [All Progressives Congress] will win. If they don’t, there will be chaos,” he added, referring to Buhari’s party. |
| Many voters, including Bayaro, spent their day scrolling through commentary on Twitter and Facebook, including posts recounting party-led efforts to tabulate the results early. Others watched the endless local television coverage of the election or held portable radios to their ears, waiting for a more official announcement. | Many voters, including Bayaro, spent their day scrolling through commentary on Twitter and Facebook, including posts recounting party-led efforts to tabulate the results early. Others watched the endless local television coverage of the election or held portable radios to their ears, waiting for a more official announcement. |
| At his home, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who was running for governor of Kaduna, sat with supporters who scoured all forms of media for any sign of the election results. Rufai, in a white Harvard sweater (he graduated with a master’s degree in public administration), appeared confident of victory. But he knew how volatile elections can be. | At his home, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who was running for governor of Kaduna, sat with supporters who scoured all forms of media for any sign of the election results. Rufai, in a white Harvard sweater (he graduated with a master’s degree in public administration), appeared confident of victory. But he knew how volatile elections can be. |
| “There can be a mob mentality,” he said. “The passion I have seen can be hard to contain.” | “There can be a mob mentality,” he said. “The passion I have seen can be hard to contain.” |
| Still, Rufai and other leaders of both parties encouraged their followers to remain civil after the election results are announced. And in Kaduna, they hoped that voters had learned from the disaster of 2011. | Still, Rufai and other leaders of both parties encouraged their followers to remain civil after the election results are announced. And in Kaduna, they hoped that voters had learned from the disaster of 2011. |
| “Election day was peaceful,” said Buru, the pastor. “And we pray that it will remain that way.” | “Election day was peaceful,” said Buru, the pastor. “And we pray that it will remain that way.” |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Nigerian presidential vote is extended amid glitches and fears of violence | Nigerian presidential vote is extended amid glitches and fears of violence |
| Mystery surrounds kidnapping of American missionary in Nigeria | Mystery surrounds kidnapping of American missionary in Nigeria |
| Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world | Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world |