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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

NIGERIA: Opposition petitions court to nullify Obasanjo's election

LAGOS, 21 May 2003 (IRIN) - Nigeria's main opposition presidential candidate has filed a court petition to nullify the re-election of President Olusegun Obasanjo on the grounds of widespread vote rigging and other irregularities.

Muhammadu Buhari, who came a distant second to Obasanjo in the 19 April ballot, filed his claims on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. The court serves as a tribunal to consider complaints arising from the elections. No date has yet been fixed for a hearing.

Buhari's legal move added to a growing atmosphere of tension ahead of 29 May, when Obasanjo is due to be sworn in for his second four-year term as president.

The police said on Tuesday it had uncovered a plot by unnamed groups to prevent Obasanjo's inauguration by organising mass demonstrations and planting explosives around the country.

Mike Ahamba, who is leading a team of lawyers for Buhari's All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP), said the 90-page petition had been filed on behalf of 20 opposition parties.

Besides listing specific examples of fraud, it accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of failing to comply with key requirements of electoral law.

The document contained a list of 36 soldiers who allegedly engaged in massive thumb-printing of ballot papers in favour of Obasanjo in the southeastern Akwa Ibom state.

It also cited the case of Rafin Kanda ward in northeastern Taraba State, where despite an absence of voting, figures were distributed by election officials showing a 100 percent turnout and victory for Obasanjo.

Buhari's petition criticised INEC for failing to get polling agents of the contesting political parties to certify electoral materials as genuine. It said this was a vital requirement for the credibility of the electoral process.

"The election is invalid by reason of corrupt practices," the petition concluded.

Local and international observers both reported that last month's presidential election was marred by widespread cases of electoral fraud, particularly southeastern Nigeria.

Buhari and Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the presidential candidate for the All Progressive Grand Alliance, who came third in the election, said in a joint statement they would only pursue legal and constitutional options in seeking redress for perceived injustice during the elections.

They described police claims of a plot to scuttle Obasanjo's inauguration as a government tactic to intimidate the oppostion.

Obasanjo and Buhari both headed military governments in Nigeria before seeking election as civilian president.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict, (IRIN) Governance

[ENDS]

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