What passed for election in Nigeria today (April 14, 2007) may yet turn out to be the worst of its kind ever experienced by the people of Nigeria since independence in 1960.
The elections, which aimed at electing members of state houses of assembly and governors of the 36 states that make up the Nigeria federation did not disappoint bookmakers who had predicted that it will be a charade and a sham.
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With the help of security agents, a deceptive, partisan and dishonest electoral body - Independent National Electoral Comission of Nigeria (INEC) - the elections turned out to be a show of shame.
An election that ought to have started at 9:00 am in the morning did not start until 12 noon in at least 90% of the states.
Voters registers were absent in most places and elections materials, wherever they existed where either inadequate or inappropriate, most voters could not find their names where they registered or were told to go and vote.
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Soldiers, militants and thugs were engaging freely in stealing ballot boxes or stuffing them with thumb-printed ballot papers made possible by electoral officials.
In Enugu and Anambra States most parts of the states did not witness any form of voting as election materials were diverted to the home of politicians loyal to the ruling party, PDP.
Reuters newswire reported the experience of the Senate President - the number three citizen in Nigeria, sums up the verdict on the free and fairness of the elections. "Many of us have not voted and we have no chance of voting," said Senate President Ken Nnamani, a PDP member from Enugu, on local television. "Any person being declared a winner as far as Enugu is concerned has no mandate of anybody. People believe that the result has already being predetermined."
There were widespread violence that so far claimed 50 people in some ten states across the country with Rivers and Ondo States leading the pack.
REPORTS:
LAGOS: The AC is leading in Lagos with 53% while the PDP trails with 23% according to tallies from collations centers.
OSUN: AC candidate Aregbesola leading according to unconfirmed reports from collation centers
OYO: ANPP candidate Ajimobi leading with a wide margin. The commander of the 82 Army Division led soldiers to disarm thugs affiliated with Chief Adedibu and PDP candidate Alao-Akala
ONDO: The Labor Party candidate, olusegun Mimiko is comfortably leading according to tallies from most of the ocal governments in the state.
EKITI: AC candidate, Kayode Fayemi is leading in Ekiti State. Reports of violence in Ilawe, Ado-Ekiti. Senator Bode Olowoporoku, Lawrence Agunbiade, Segun Oni, Akin Omole went around terrorizing voters. Olowoporoku invaded Ilawe Ekiti and was repelled twice by youths in the area. In Ikerre-Ekiti, Abiodun Aluko (former deputy governor under Ayo Fayose) was involved in rigging for the PDP in his house, two people killed in his house and his whereabouts is still unknown. Also in Ikole, the Elekole palace used for ballot stuffing. Acts led by the children of the Oba. n Ijero, Oye, Ido osi, Ado-Ekiti, ballot boxes were snatched but there was resistance. Bulk of rigging done the rural areas.
KADUNA: ANPP leading
KATSINA: ANPP in the lead.
BAUCHI: Isa Yuguda of ANPP in the lead.
BENUE: ANPP is leading...
GOMBE-ANPP leads...
NIGER: PDP leading according to tallies...
PLATEAU: PDP in the lead
KWARA: Bukola Saraki is leading the pack.
KOGI: PDP is leading.
BAYELSA: PDP leading, three people killed on election day.
IMO: APGA is doing well so far
ENUGU: Marred by voter fraud, early results shows APGA in the lead
RIVERS: 15 people killed, including 8 policemen two police stations burnt down by militants.
DELTA: Office of INEC burnt down
EDO: massive voter fraud perpetrated by Chief Anthony Anenih -4 people killed in Ekpoma by PDP hired cultists. Adams Oshiomole of AC is rigged out. Akoko Edo, ex-human rights lawyers Mike Ozekhome arrested with ballot boxes for PDP still detained.
ANAMBRA: PDP and APGA are close, massive rigging and cult-related violence by ANDY Uba team reported.
OGUN: ANPP candidate ibikunle AMOSUN defeats OBJ in ward.
Bayelsa State voting at the government lodge, three pple killed.
KANO: Reports shows that President Obasanjo and INEC wanted to postpone the elections in Kano but fear of Kano indigenes after the murder of anti-PDP cleric would let INEC contemplate it. ANPP leading in Kano.
*These updates are based upon tallies from collation centers as of 5: 00 AM Nigerian time.
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