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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Nigeria election 'gravely flawed' | Nigeria election 'gravely flawed' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An election for governor of Nigeria's Anambra state has been condemned amid reports of vote-buying and ballot-box theft. | |
| Peter Obi was re-elected but just 300,000 people cast their ballots from an electorate of 1.8 million. | Peter Obi was re-elected but just 300,000 people cast their ballots from an electorate of 1.8 million. |
| Gangs of youths intimidated and harassed voters and snatched three ballot boxes from polling stations. | Gangs of youths intimidated and harassed voters and snatched three ballot boxes from polling stations. |
| The chaos has dampened hopes of improvements to Nigeria's voting system ahead of national elections in 2011. | The chaos has dampened hopes of improvements to Nigeria's voting system ahead of national elections in 2011. |
| President Umaru Yar'Adua had promised to sort out Nigeria's notoriously corrupt elections after he was elected in a widely-criticised poll in 2007. | President Umaru Yar'Adua had promised to sort out Nigeria's notoriously corrupt elections after he was elected in a widely-criticised poll in 2007. |
| 'Brazen manipulation' | 'Brazen manipulation' |
| But even the winning candidate in Anambra conceded that the vote had been subject to "age-old inadequacies" such as poor preparation. | But even the winning candidate in Anambra conceded that the vote had been subject to "age-old inadequacies" such as poor preparation. |
| Mr Obi had initially refused to vote because he discovered he was the only member of his family whose name appeared on the electoral roll. He later changed his mind. | Mr Obi had initially refused to vote because he discovered he was the only member of his family whose name appeared on the electoral roll. He later changed his mind. |
| Chukwuma Soludo, who came third in the poll, complained of "brazen manipulation". | Chukwuma Soludo, who came third in the poll, complained of "brazen manipulation". |
| "Let me use this opportunity to congratulate my friend Mr Peter Obi," said Mr Soludo. | "Let me use this opportunity to congratulate my friend Mr Peter Obi," said Mr Soludo. |
| "In spite of the grave flaws, INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] has declared you winner of the election." | "In spite of the grave flaws, INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] has declared you winner of the election." |
| The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Anambra says he witnessed three ballot boxes being stolen by gangs of youths - at least one of whom was armed and dressed in police uniform. | The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Anambra says he witnessed three ballot boxes being stolen by gangs of youths - at least one of whom was armed and dressed in police uniform. |
| He says one polling station had 500 registered voters but just three people could find their names on the list. | He says one polling station had 500 registered voters but just three people could find their names on the list. |
| Although the manipulation appeared to be politically motivated, our correspondent says it is not clear who was responsible. | Although the manipulation appeared to be politically motivated, our correspondent says it is not clear who was responsible. |
| Many polling stations opened hours late and there were confrontations as voters discovered their names were not on the electoral register. | Many polling stations opened hours late and there were confrontations as voters discovered their names were not on the electoral register. |
| Mr Obi received almost 98,000 votes - little more than 5% of the total electorate. He is from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, which is in opposition at the federal level. | Mr Obi received almost 98,000 votes - little more than 5% of the total electorate. He is from the All Progressives Grand Alliance, which is in opposition at the federal level. |
| He beat Chris Ngige, from the opposition Action Congress, who came second with 60,240 ballots and Mr Soludo, of the governing People's Democratic Party, with 59,755. | He beat Chris Ngige, from the opposition Action Congress, who came second with 60,240 ballots and Mr Soludo, of the governing People's Democratic Party, with 59,755. |
| Officials said they were generally pleased that there had been little violence during the vote. | Officials said they were generally pleased that there had been little violence during the vote. |
| Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan said it was "an indication that the electoral reforms of the present administration were beginning to have an effect on the nation's political culture". | Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan said it was "an indication that the electoral reforms of the present administration were beginning to have an effect on the nation's political culture". |
| Under Nigeria's federal system, state governors enjoy wide powers. | Under Nigeria's federal system, state governors enjoy wide powers. |
| Those running resource-rich states such as Anambra preside over economies larger than those of some African countries. | Those running resource-rich states such as Anambra preside over economies larger than those of some African countries. |
| Did you vote in the election? Do you have any evidence of vote-buying or ballot-box theft? If you have any information to share with the BBC, please send us your details using the postform below. | Did you vote in the election? Do you have any evidence of vote-buying or ballot-box theft? If you have any information to share with the BBC, please send us your details using the postform below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |