Famous lose out in Nigeria polls
2011-04-11 19:30
Lagos - Nigeria's opposition seems to have eroded the ruling party's dominance of parliament, results showed on Monday, with the children of ex-presidents among losers in polls seen as a step towards real democracy.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, however, looked set to remain the largest party in the 469-member legislature despite losing ground in the southwest and parts of the north of Africa's most populous nation.
Saturday's parliamentary polls, the first of three crucial elections this month, have been described by officials and observers as a clear sign of progress in Nigeria despite violence and two earlier postponements.
Presidential elections are to be held this coming Saturday, while governorship and state assembly ballots are set for April 26.
Losses for the ruling PDP included Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, a senator and daughter of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, and Maryam Yar'Adua, daughter of late president Umaru Yar'Adua who was defeated in her bid to join the house.
The speaker of the house of representatives, Dimeji Bankole, also lost his seat - and reacted in a way that may have surprised Nigerians weary with win-at-all-cost politicians.
"For me, the race was not a life and death duel," he said in a statement.
"Of more importance is building, maintaining and developing our democratic institution and processes as a means towards true national development and greatness."
New territory
In the country's southwest, where the economic capital Lagos is located, the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria had made a strong showing.
The Congress for Progressive Change opposition, whose presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari, an ex-military ruler, is seen as the main challenger to incumbent Goodluck Jonathan, made inroads in the north.
Members of the national assembly have in the past frequently changed parties, making it unclear what effect the PDP's losses would have, especially if Jonathan wins the presidential election.
But there was a sense that Nigeria had entered new territory, with efforts to conduct a fair vote seen as providing a greater opening for opposition parties, and that old patterns may not necessarily hold.
"We are partially satisfied about the general conduct of the poll," said Buhari spokesperson Yinka Odumakin. "But the situation can be better.
He added that his party and the ACN had renewed talks on forming a possible alliance for presidential polls on Saturday.
Observers cautioned that they had not yet gained a full picture of Saturday's vote, but said signs so far indicated progress in a country seeking to break with a history of deeply flawed and violent elections.
"We believe that an important step forward has been taken in Nigeria with the successful conduct of the national assembly elections," said ex-Botswana president Festus Mogae, the head of observers from the Commonwealth.
Logistics problemsHe expressed concern over the violence, but said in his statement that the elections "generally took place in a peaceful and orderly manner."
Mogae also urged the electoral commission to deal with continued logistics problems ahead of the upcoming two elections, but said, "we do not believe that these called into question the overall credibility of the process".
Three explosions and other forms of sporadic violence hit parts of Africa's largest oil producer on the day of the election and just before.
A bomb attack on an electoral office on Friday night killed 13 people and wounded dozens, while two other explosions occurred in the northeastern city of Maiduguri on Saturday.
One of the blasts rocked a polling place and another occurred at a vote collating centre. Authorities had not officially confirmed any deaths, but sources said a number of people had been killed.
There was also violence in the oil-producing Niger Delta, notorious for election rigging and intimidation during past polls.
- SAPA