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Violence, boycott threaten poll
19/04/2007 08:57 - (SA)
Lagos - Nigerians vote on Saturday in landmark polls that should see power transfer between two civilian presidents for the first time, despite widespread violence and the threat of an opposition boycott.
The historic election to choose a successor to ex-general Olusegun Obasanjo is being billed as the first civilian-to-civilian handover since the world's sixth biggest oil exporter won independence from Britain in 1960.
The lead-up has been marred by accusations of fraud and vote-rigging in last weekend's elections for provincial governors and legislatures. At least 20 people were killed in violence surrounding the regional polls.
Eighteen opposition parties responded by threatening to boycott the presidential election unless it was postponed until "transparency and fairness" could be guaranteed.
The United States, which along with the European Union and rights groups expressed serious reservations over Nigeria's regional polls, has urged the opposition not to carry out its threat.
Washington also called on Nigeria's government to take immediate action to prevent the electoral misconduct and irregularities that allegedly characterised the earlier polls.
Yar'Adua the favourite
The favourite to succeed Obasanjo and take the reins of Africa's largest democracy is Umaru Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP).
He was flown to Germany for emergency medical treatment in March, but health concerns aside the 55-year-old is seen as holding the edge over his two main rivals.
They are Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who defected from the PDP to run as candidate for the opposition Action Congress (AC), and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
Doubt over the candidature of Abubakar, who is known as "Atiku", was ended by an eleventh-hour Supreme Court ruling that he could stand despite attempts by the electoral commission to disqualify him over corruption allegations.
The attempted barring of Atiku was widely seen as Obasanjo's work. The outgoing president has vowed never to let his deputy succeed him.
To appease the Christian south of the country, Yar'Adua - governor of the northern Muslim state of Katsina - chose as running mate Goodluck Jonathan, from the oil-producing southern state of Bayelsa.
Buhari, another northerner, also from Katsina, is seen as the only candidate who stands a real chance against Yar'Adua.
Running for the All Nigerian People's Party (ANPP), he came to power in a 1983 coup before being overthrown himself two years later.
Whoever wins the support of the country's 61 million voters faces the daunting task of consolidating the democratic gains and economic reforms pursued by their predecessor.
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