Nigeria vote tensions rise as counting suspended

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria: Nigeria’s election authorities announced the suspension of activities in volatile oppositionheld Rivers State on Sunday citing violence and threats to its staff, as tensions rise in the wake of closely-watched regional elections.

Counting is continuing across the country after Saturday’s elections for governors in 29 of Nigeria’s 36 states, all state assemblies and administrative councils in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja. Results are expected in the coming days.

The statement from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) halting the electoral process in oil-rich Rivers came after dozens of men in military fatigues encircled a vote counting centre in the state capital Port Harcourt – sparking international concern and an army denial that its soldiers were involved.

While it did not mention the incident directly, the INEC said the “safety of our staff appears to be in jeopardy all over the state and the commission is concerned about the credibility of the process”.

It said reports from its teams in Rivers “suggest that violence occurred in a substantial number of polling units and collation centres, staff have been taken hostage and materials including result sheets have either been seized or destroyed by unauthorised persons”.

AFP reporters in Port Harcourt said men in military uniforms blocked roads around the building where INEC staff were counting votes, sparking a standoff with police who initially resisted with teargas but ultimately backed down.

Nigeria’s military categorically denied that the men were among its ranks, accusing “political thugs” of dressing up in army uniforms and carrying weapons to “impersonate soldiers and perpetrate various crimes in the furtherance of the activities of their political bosses”. — AFP