NIGERIAN AFFAIRS

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Jonathan wins presidential election

Goodluck Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has won the crucial presidential election of Nigeria, which many have described as the freest election since 1999.

President Jonathan is coasting home with 24 states plus the Federal Capital Territory, FCT out of the 29 states officially declared by the Independent National electoral commission, INEC.

The president, a southerner from the minority oil rich state of Bayelsa is leading its closest rival Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former military head of state from the Muslim dominated north with considerable margin enough to win the presidential election.

He won all the states in the south-east, south-west, south-south and some states in the north central, while Gen Buhari cleared the polls in north-west and key states in other parts of the north.

A candidate needs absolute majority votes plus at least 25% votes cast in 24 states of the federation to be declared winner and avoid run-off.

Gen. Buhari has alleged that the election was rigged in some states but hinted that he will not challenge the results in court due to the country’s slow judicial process, but added that his party’s officials are free to go to court if they want to do so.

His words "We are getting a lot of sad information about people intercepting some printed voters cards in different parts of the country. We are concerned about the amount of election voting cards that are being thumb-printed elsewhere and were taken to some of the voting centres."

Meanwhile, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission in Nigeria has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful and orderly election.

In its reports the regional body states “the ECOWAS Observation Mission would like to commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and all stakeholders for ensuring a peaceful and orderly election, thus making it a historic step for the strengthening of democracy and good governance in Nigeria. Voters are also urged to maintain their high sense of responsibility and tolerance during the remaining election period.”

-African Examiner