Too close to call as Nigeria goes to polls

NIGERIA voted for a new president yesterday in the most closely fought election since independence, framed by Boko Haram violence, economic woes and endemic corruption.

From megacity Lagos in the Christian south to cities across the Muslim north, polling stations opened at 9am South African time, with 68.8 million of Nigeria’s 173 million people registered to vote.

President Goodluck Jonathan arrived by helicopter in his home town of Utuoke in southern Bayelsa state on Friday night, hoping for a second term of office despite stinging criticism of his record.

His main opponent, the selfstyled scourge of government corruption Muhammadu Buhari, was in Daura, in the northern Katsina state, eyeing a democratic return to power after a spell as military ruler in the ’80s.

The result is said to be far from clear, with the opposition in its strongest position yet.

Observers from the EU, the US, the AU and the UN were in place to ensure a free, fair and transparent contest.

Results from both the presidential and parliamentary vote, being held at the same time, are expected within 48 hours of polls closing.

Previous polls have been blighted by rigging, but there are hopes that the use of handheld technology to read biometric voter identity cards will cut fraud.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s military has detained two Al Jazeera TV journalists in the country’s northeast, where troops have been battling Boko Haram militants.

Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said the pair were “found to have been loitering around areas where military operations are ongoing”. — AFP