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Nigeria's biggest party urges re-run of disputed poll
AFP
ABUJA
Petroleumworld.com 04 27 07Nigeria's leading opposition party Thursday called for the cancellation of disputed presidential elections last weekend, saying it would refuse to recognise a government issued from the poll.
The country's electoral commission, INEC, meanwhile annnounced by-elections next Saturday, April 28, in 27 states where polls had to be cancelled due to logistical problems, such as ballot paper printing errors and voting delays.
In the capital, Abuja, the All Nigeria's Peoples Party (ANPP) whose candidate came a distant second in the race for the presidency, said it was ready to call its members into the street to press for a re-run of the vote.
The election has been roundly condemned by foreign and local observers as falling short of international democratic standards.
"ANPP will not recognise any government installed on the basis of the election of 21st April this year," said Edwin Ume Ezeoke, ANPP national chairman.
"Any government installed on the basis of the April 21st election is an illegal government. We are not going to recognise or cooperate with that government," Ezeoke said.
The ANPP chairman was presidential running mate to Muhammadu Buhari, who won 6.6 million votes, well behind ruling party winner Umaru Yar'Adua with 24.6 million.
"We call for the total cancellation of the presidential election while requesting for a fresh election immediately," Ezeoke said.
He said the party would back action to have the vote annulled.
"We are prepared to join in any mass action, whether you call it protest or demonstration, to ensure the proper democratic government is installed in this country," Ezeoke said.
A coalition of opposition parties and some civil society organsations have agreed to peaceful protests next week.
INEC spokesman Philip Umeadi said the electoral body would conduct elections for the governorship post in south-eastern Imo state, 11 senatorial seats, 48 House of Representatives and 57 State Houses of Assembly seats spread across 27 states.
"Most of the by-elections are as a result of the exclusion of the logos of certain political parties from the ballot papers and their refusal to continue with the elections," Umeadi told reporters.
Nigeria's first round of widely flawed elections began with gubernatorial and state assemblies polls on April 14, followed by the parliamentary and presidential polls of April 21.
In Lagos, the economic hub of the world's sixth exporter of oil, rescheduled elections will be held in two out of the three senatorial districts.
The Nigerian polls have been slammed by several groups, including the US and EU as the worst in the African nation's recent history.
AFP 26 1901 GMT 04 07
Copyright© 2007 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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