Nigeria votes for new president after delay
DAURA, Nigeria: Nigerians began voting for a new president after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence.
Some 120,000 polling stations began opening from 0700 GMT, although there were indications of a delay in the delivery of some materials and deployment of staff, AFP reporters said.
Results are expected from early next week, with the winner gaining control of Africa’s most populous nation and leading oil producer for four years.
President Muhammadu Buhari was one of the first to vote, and emerged from the polling booth in his home town of Daura, in the northwest state of Katsina, to say he was confident of victory.
“So far, so good,” he told reporters.
“I will congratulate myself. I’m going to be the winner.”
His main challenger, Atiku Abubakar, 72, is expected to vote in his home state of Adamawa, in the northeast.
Electors are also choosing 360 members of the House of Representatives and 109 senators from a choice of 6,500 candidates.
Shortly before polls opened, a series of blasts rocked the northeastern city of Maiduguri, which has been repeatedly hit by Boko Haram Islamists.
Security sources also reported attacks in Auno, 15 miles west of the city, and in Geidam, in neighbouring Yobe state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Saturday announced a oneweek delay to the election, just hours before it was due to get under way.
That angered voters who had already travelled to their hometowns and villages to participate, and saw the main parties accuse each other of conspiring with the INEC to rig the result.
Neither has produced evidence and the elections watchdog has worked round the clock to overcome difficulties in delivering materials, which it had blamed for the postponement.
Many voters turned out before dawn to wait for polling stations to open, although in some places there was a delay.
“They are late and it’s not good because I wanted to vote on time and go home,” said Akinola Kogo, 57, as he waited for registration to start at a Lagos primary school.
A late start was also reported in Port Harcourt and in the Adamawa state capital, Yola.
INEC’s logistical fine-tuning has been overshadowed by comments from Buhari that he had ordered security forces to be “ruthless” with vote-riggers and ballot-box snatchers.
Critics said his warning was a “licence to kill” to the police and the military, while Abubakar said his comments were not fitting for an elected head of state.
Buhari has since sought to reassure voters not to be afraid, promising an “atmosphere of
So far, so good. I will congratulate myself. I’m going to be the winner. Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria President
openness and peace, devoid of fear from threat or intimidation”. — AFP