Militant attack, delays tarnish presidential vote

DAURA, Nigeria — Nigeria began counting votes in a presidential election on Saturday marked by an extremist attack, late-opening polling stations and a surprise loss for top challenger Atiku Abubakar in his own hometown.

The voting took place a week after a painful election delay, and final results are expected by Tuesday in Africa’s largest democracy. Observers and security forces gave scattered reports of torched ballot boxes, soldiers firing on suspected vote-snatchers and people illegally selling their votes for as little as 500 naira ($1.38). Several people were killed.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking a second term after largely failing to deliver on fighting extremism and corruption, was first in line at his polling station in his northern hometown of Daura.

Billionaire former vice president Abubakar, who had told reporters that “I look forward to a successful transition,” was embarrassed by his 186-167 loss to the president at his polling station in Yola. A large crowd of Buhari supporters exploded in cheers at the news.

Observers had said the election was too close to call.

Election day began with multiple blasts in Maiduguri, the capital of northeastern Borno state. Security forces at first denied an attack but eventually acknowledged that extremists had “attempted to infiltrate” the city by launching artillery fire. One soldier was killed and four were wounded, a security official said, insisting on anonymity.

The attacks — claimed by the Islamic State West Africa Province — frightened some voters away from the polls. “I feared for my life,” resident Haruna Isa said. “I don’t trust anyone anymore.” He stayed home and wished the candidates luck.

Buhari called the voting smooth, but a coalition of civic groups said multiple polling units had not opened more than four hours after the official start. Delays were reported in parts of the south and in the north-central state of Nasarawa as well as in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, where thugs set ballots at one polling station ablaze.

Many Nigerians, appalled that their country has become the world leader in the number of people living in extreme poverty, said the election will be decided by economic issues. The country suffered a months-long recession under Buhari when global oil prices crashed, with unemployment growing significantly to 23 percent and inflation in the double digits.

Ben Curtis, Rodney Muhumuza and Ismail Alfa Abdulrahim are Associated Press writers.

Luis Tato / AFP / Getty Images A woman casts her ballot at the Malkohi refugee camp in Jimeta. Malkohi is a facility for Nigerians displaced from areas threatened by the Boko Haram Islamic extremist group.