2007年VOA标准英语-Opposition to Nigeria's Vote Mull Options

Opposition¹ leaders, lawmakers and pro-democracy activists³ in Nigeria are mulling options on how to contest results from this month's fraud-filled and ruling-party dominated state and federal elections.  Many of them are not sure if the court system is the proper avenue.  VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Abuja.

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A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Abuja, Nigeria

Some Nigerian politicians alleged⁵ there were hints of discontent in army barracks as well.

A pro-democracy activist², Jibrin Ibrahim, said there was too much disorganization during the voting for courts to be able to handle grievances⁶.

"A lot of polling stations did not have results sheets, which should have been signed by all the party agents," he said.  "In our court system, these results sheets would be required as evidence that those results did not correspond to the votes of the people.  That is why we have come to the conclusion that this is a national, political and constitutional crisis and our constitution provides for the national assembly to intervene in such a context."

A court case to reject the similarly flawed 2003 presidential election was rejected more than two years after it was introduced.

Emma Ezeazu from the Nigerian Alliance for Credible⁷ Elections said civil society groups are meeting to consider an appeal for civil disobedience.

"Civil society groups in this country have clear programs.  One of them includes the program of how the people can defend their mandates," she said.

But many ordinary Nigerians seem disillusioned⁸ by the electoral process and resigned to the victory of the ruling party.

The private daily The Vanguard wrote "even a goat would have won the elections provided it had the backing of the People's Democratic Party."

The campaign headquarters of the president-elect Musa Yar'Adua was one of the few places where cheering broke out.

The declared winner with about 70 percent of the vote, according to officials, called for all Nigerians to accept him as the next president.

"The contest has come and gone so must our differences dissipate in the cause of the greater good of moving our dear nation ahead," he said.  "Especially, I wish to thank my worthy⁹ opponents in the presidential election, you are all respected and respectable Nigerians and leaders in your own rights."

He said none of them had called to congratulate him.  Outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose efforts to change the constitution and seek a third term, were rejected by the outgoing parliament, has warned any attempts to destabilize Nigeria will be suppressed.

One of the many disappointed international observers, Madeleine Albright, says there is plenty of time for challenges to be considered before the new government is scheduled to be installed May 29.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says election authorities have failed Nigerians, 23 Apr 2007

Leading opposition candidates have vowed¹⁰ the results will not stand, but they have yet to explain what exactly their strategy will be.