Nigerian General Elections...the aftermath.

Buhari Condemns Nigeria post-election violence!

Written by Prince Tony Momoh
Monday, 18 April 2011 19:51

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) noted with concern the ongoing violent reaction on the announced results from the collation exercise currently in progress at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The CPC has throughout its campaign preached to its supporters to eschew violence. In the circumstance we therefore, call on all our supporters to remain calm and non-violent and prepare themselves for the next round of elections on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.

CONGRESS FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE (CPC) MOTTO: EQUITY, PEACE AND PROSPERITY

STATEMENT BY THE CPC

1. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) noted with concern the ongoing violent reaction on the announced results from the collation exercise currently in progress at Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

2. While appreciating the inalienable right of Nigerians in a democratic system to express their feelings in a protest against injustice, they must never the less remain non-violent.

3. The CPC abhors violence by all Nigerians in the course of expressing grievances

4. The CPC has throughout its campaign preached to its supporters to eschew violence. In the circumstance we therefore, call on all our supporters to remain calm and non-violent and prepare themselves for the next round of elections on Tuesday, April 26, 2011.

5. All CPC supporters should come out enmasse on April 26 to vote for the CPC and overthrow those responsible for the evident injustice to our Party and the nation.

6. We also condemn in the strongest term the brutality of the security forces against unarmed protesters and innocent civilians and call on them to show restraint in handling all situations of civil protest.

7. We call on the federal government to investigate and determine the role of the police and other security forces in the allege shooting of about 100 innocent Nigerians in Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Port Harcourt, Owerri and other places.

Prince Tony Momoh
National Chairman
 
Nigeria election: Goodluck Jonathan appeals for calm

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The BBC's Komla Dumor says some people see Jonathan as an "accidental president"

Continue reading the main storyNigeria votes: 2011

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed for an end to "unnecessary and avoidable" post-election violence across the north of the country.
Incumbent Mr Jonathan has been declared winner in the presidential poll, with the electoral commission saying he received about 57% of the vote.
Rioting spread across the Muslim north - the opposition's powerbase - as the outcome became clear.
International observers have said the election was reasonably free and fair.
But supporters of Mr Jonathan's main rival, Muhammadu Buhari, allege ballot-rigging.
The Red Cross says it believes many people have been killed in clashes with the police in northern areas of the country.
Analysis

Muhammad Jameel Yushau BBC Hausa Service
It is the first time in Nigeria's recent history that the election result has exposed the huge division between the Muslim north and Christian south.
Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan has won in nearly all southern states, which are predominantly Christian except for one, while his main challenger Muhammadu Buhari won in the Muslim north-east and north-west. Both candidates shared votes in the north central area which has a substantial Muslim and Christian population.
Elections in Nigeria are not necessarily about issues but about ethnicity, religion and regionalism. So historically they have been won as a result of either a formal alliance by political parties or - more recently - an informal agreement within the governing PDP party to alternate the presidency between north and south.
For this reason, the winning candidate - irrespective of region, religion or ethnicity - normally commanded a wide national spread. In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian from the south, won the majority of the votes in northern Nigeria. However, the rotation was broken when Mr Jonathan succeeded to the presidency last year after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua, a northerner.
This election, described by international observers as the most successful for decades, seems to be compounding the country's regional and ethnic divisions.

Homes of supporters of Mr Jonathan, a Christian from the oil-producing Niger Delta and the candidate of the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP), were attacked in the cities of Kano and Kaduna.
The BBC's Caroline Duffield, in the Nigerian capital Abuja, says General Buhari himself has yet to comment - but political pressure is growing on him to call for calm as well.
In a statement, Mr Jonathan said: "I have received with great sadness the news of sporadic unrest in some parts of the country which are not unconnected with last Saturday's elections.
"I appeal to those involved to stop this unnecessary and avoidable conduct, more so at this point in time when a lot of sacrifice has been made by all the citizens of this great country in ensuring the conduct of free and fair elections.
"I call on all our political leaders, especially the contestants, to appeal to their supporters to stop further violence in the interest of stability, peace and well-being of this great country.
"No-one's political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian."
Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission released final results later on Monday, saying Mr Jonathan had won 22.5 million votes to General Buhari's 12.2 million votes.
Mr Jonathan was appointed to the presidency last year upon the death of incumbent Umaru Yar'Adua, whom he had served as vice-president. He staked his reputation on the election, repeatedly promising it would be free and fair.
VP's home 'set ablaze'
Continue reading the main storyFinal results

  • Goodluck Jonathan, People's Democratic Party: 22.5 million votes (59.6%)
  • Muhammadu Buhari, Congress for Progressive Change: 12.2 million votes (32.3%)
  • Nuhu Ribadu, Action Congress of Nigeria: 2.08 million votes (5.5%)
  • Ibrahim Shekarau, All Nigeria Peoples Party: 911,455 votes (2.4%)
Figures: Resident Electoral Commissioners

In Kano, the largest city in in the north, homes displaying posters of Mr Jonathan were set on fire, and gangs of young men roamed the streets shouting "Only Buhari!"
In Kaduna, where a 24-hour curfew has been declared, youths clashed with the police and military in areas to the north and south of the city, with the security forces firing tear gas and live ammunition.
Local TV stations reported that the Kaduna home of Mr Jonathan's running mate, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, was set on fire. They said the city's central prison was attacked and inmates released.
A lawyer travelling through Kaduna told the BBC's Focus on Africa he had escaped from a mob in the city. He said youths armed with clubs and machetes were targeting people who did not look like they were indigenous to the north.
"My car was damaged [and] the windscreen was broken," he said. "I told my driver... to start the car and take off and at that point they smashed the car. We managed to get away."
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Goodluck Jonathan's victory was announced on Nigerian TV by the country's electoral commission

In the central city of Jos, there is rioting in the Gangare area to the north of the city.
There are also reports of violent protests in the states of Gombe, Adamawa, Katsina and Sokoto.
And there are fears for the safety of the revered religious leader, the Sultan of Sokoto, who is now facing angry criticism over his support for President Jonathan.
While past Nigerian polls have been marred by widespread violence and vote-fixing, Saturday's seemed to go generally smoothly.
Voters in many areas queued patiently for hours despite intense heat to cast their votes.

Nigeria: A nation divided
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has won all elections since the end of military rule in 1999. It won two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states last time. To win at the first round, a candidate needs at least 25% of the vote in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states.


Nigeria's 160 million people are divided between numerous ethno-linguistic groups and also along religious lines. Broadly, the Hausa-Fulani people based in the north are mostly Muslims. The Yorubas of the south-west are divided between Muslims and Christians, while the Igbos of the south-east and neghbouring groups are mostly Christian or animist. The Middle Belt is home to hundreds of groups with different beliefs, and around Jos there are frequent clashes between Hausa-speaking Muslims and Christian members of the Berom community.


Despite its vast resources, Nigeria ranks among the most unequal countries in the world, according to the UN. The poverty in the north is in stark contrast to the more developed southern states. While in the oil-rich south-east, the residents of Delta and Akwa Ibom complain that all the wealth they generate flows up the pipeline to Abuja and Lagos.


Southern residents tend to have better access to healthcare, as reflected by the greater uptake of vaccines for polio, tuberculosis, tetanus and diphtheria. Some northern groups have in the past boycotted immunisation programmes, saying they are a Western plot to make Muslim women infertile. This led to a recurrence of polio, but the vaccinations have now resumed.


Female literacy is seen as the key to raising living standards for the next generation. For example, a newborn child is far likelier to survive if its mother is well-educated. In Nigeria we see a stark contrast between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south. In some northern states less than 5% of women can read and write, whereas in some Igbo areas more than 90% are literate.


Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and among the biggest in the world but most of its people subsist on less than $2 a day. The oil is produced in the south-east and some militant groups there want to keep a greater share of the wealth which comes from under their feet. Attacks by militants on oil installations led to a sharp fall in Nigeria's output during the last decade. But in 2010, a government amnesty led thousands of fighters to lay down their weapons.
 
By: Free Speech
April 19th 2011 08:01:25 AM
Adamawa imposes curfew to curb spread of violence

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The Adamawa State government has imposed dusk to dawn curfew as the protest which erupted yesterday in the state capital over the outcome of the presidential election spreads to Mubi, Michika and Jada local government areas of the state.

The state government in a swift reaction to the violence through the senior special assistant to the governor on media Aminu Iyawa, placed a restriction of movement from 7pm to 6am of Sunday until the civil disturbance which has engulfed the state is brought under control.

In yesterday's unrest, one person was feared dead in Michika Local Government, while many persons are said to have sustained severe injuries. The destruction followed protest by rioters protesting the loss of elections in Adamawa State by Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progress Change (CPC) claiming that the state result were manipulated in favour of the PDP.

Governor Murtala Nyako has assured the people of the state of the government's determination to be in control of the situation. "We have today skirmishes in few of our urban areas. The genesis of this was the unfortunate false reports by two journalists to their respective foreign radio organisation alleging that their favourable political party was leading in the presidential election when actually it was not the case.

"Unfortunately, as soon as the official results were being announced by INEC, disgruntled elements of the party who were misled by the earlier radio reports went on rampage."

Police step in

The police public relation officer in the state Altine Daniels disclosed that over 50 persons had so far been arrested in connection with the violent protest across the state. Ms Daniel said the arrested persons were already being interrogated and would be charged to court in accordance with relevant laws. "I assure you that our investigations and interrogation are still going on and every person found to be culpable would be taken to court. We cannot fail in this regards I guarantee you because even the judiciary knows about this situation." Asked about the extent of the destruction Ms Altine said she was "not capable of ascertaining the extent of the loss and of any case of lose of lives."

CPC denies

But the CPC in Adamawa State through the state chairman Waziri Ibrahim while addressing journalists at the state party secretariat has distanced the party from the crisis in the state. "CPC has nothing to do with the crisis that is going on in the state," he said. "Our party has never for one day supported any crisis because we are also stakeholders in the Nigerian project." Mr Waziri said the CPC in Adamawa State has rejected the result of the presidential elections released yesterday by INEC in the state. He said he has recommended to the national headquarters of the party to seek legal redress in the law court because of the irregularities that fraught the elections in the state.

According to him, the "ballot papers used at the polling centres on the election day were different from the original ballot papers meant for the elections." "Our party officials in keeping with the electoral guidelines for the elections were allowed to inspect the ballot papers meant for the elections which our party officers took note of the serial numbers on the ballot materials. But the ballot used for the elections turned out to be different from it," Mr Waziri said. He added that the party will go to court and believe that at the end of the day, they will have the Adamawa State result upturned.

Source:
 
Nigeria reels from post-election rioting

Red Cross says many killed in two northern states after incumbent president defeated candidate from the region.

Last Modified: 19 Apr 2011 10:52

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The Red Cross said "many people" had been killed in the states of Kano and Kaduna but gave no exact details [AFP]

 Violence has continued in two Nigerian nothern states after Goodluck Jonathan was declared winner of Saturday's presidential election, defeating former military leader Muhammadu Buhari from the north.

The overnight violence raged despite Jonathan's appeal for calm in the usually restive region of Africa's most populous, oil-producing nation.
Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the capital Abuja, said on Tuesday the states of Kaduna and Kanu had been particularly hit by post-election rioting and that "eyewitness accounts [are] flooding in from people saying they're under attack".

"We're hearing churches have been set on fire; chaos and violence is unfoding in many villages and people are running for their lives," she said.

"One lady called me around 3am this morning frantically panicking. She had a call from her brother saying that his house was being attacked by supporters of Buhari because he was a Christian.

"It is a huge concern and it is really casting a very negative shadow on elections which have been declared free and fair by observers."

A Red Cross official said on Tuesday rioting had left "many people" dead, but he did not give further details.

Al Jazeera:
 
More than 200 people killed

April 20, 2011 19:11 - in Global News

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KANO, Nigeria, - Post-election unrest in Nigeria has left more than 200 people dead and hundreds of arrests have been made, a Nigerian civil rights group said on Wednesday. “In the whole region, from reports reaching Civil Rights Congress, the death toll is over 200,” Shehu Sani, head of the organisation, told AFP.

The numbers were compiled through his organisation’s staff and associates. He added that more than 1,000 people had been arrested in the city of Kaduna alone, where a 24-hour curfew had earlier gone into effect. The riots started as results showed President Goodluck Jonathan won Saturday’s elections.

He was declared the winner on Monday night over his northern rival, ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria is roughly split in half between a mainly Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south. Jonathan is a Christian from the southern oil-producing Niger Delta region.
 
Updates!

Group: At least 500 dead in Nigeria election riots
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JON GAMBRELL,SHEHU SAULAWA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: April 24, 2011 3:06 p.m.

BAUCHI, Nigeria - At least 500 people died in religious rioting that followed Nigeria's presidential election, a civil rights group said Sunday, as volatile state gubernatorial elections loom this week.

Meanwhile, police in the northern state of Bauchi said at least 11 recent college graduates who helped run polling stations as part of the country's national youth service corps have been killed in postelection violence, while other female poll workers have been raped.

The Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria said that the worst hit area was Zonkwa, a town in rural Kaduna state, where more than 300 people died in rioting.

The Civil Rights Congress, led by a Muslim activist, said killings also took place in the towns of Kafanchan and Zangon Kataf, as well as the state capital of Kaduna.

Full story:
 
Three bomb blasts rock Nigerian city, casualties feared
by admin on April 25, 2011

MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA (BNO NEWS) -- An unknown number of people are feared to have been killed after three bombs exploded at two locations in the Nigerian city of Maiduguri on Sunday, local media reported on Monday.

The Daily Trust newspaper reported on Monday morning that the explosions happened at around 8.30 p.m. local time on Sunday evening, targeting the Tudu Palace Hotel and a popular transport hub known as 'Tashar Kano'.

Smoke could be seen rising from the scene on Sunday evening, but few details were immediately available. "Nobody can tell how many people died and how many were injured in the blasts because the hotel is a beehive of activities," a witness told the Daily Trust.

It was not immediately known who or which group was behind the co-ordinated attack.

Maiduguri is the capital and largest city of Borno State in northeastern Nigeria. It sits along the seasonal Ngadda River and has a population of more than 1 million.

Source:
 
Ooh! My God. Really sorry for those who lost their life. Btu what is the source of this accident?
 
Mabomu matatu yamelipuka mjini Maiduguri kaskazini-mashariki mwa Nigeria, na kuua takriban watu watatu.

Mabomu mawili yalilipuka kwenye hoteli na jengine kwenye kituo cha usafirishaji siku ya Jumapili usiku.

Polisi wamesema walioathirika wamepelekwa kwenye hospitali mbili tofauti mjini humo.

Kundi la kiislamu la Boko Haram linalopinga vitabu vya magharibi limelaumiwa kwa mashambulio kama hayo ambalo limekuwa likipambana na majeshi ya usalama mjini hapo.

Milipuko ya hivi karibuni imetokea kabla ya kufanyika kwa uchaguzi wa magavana siku ya Jumanne katika majimbo 36 ya Nigeria.

Ghasia ziliibuka kaskazini mwa Nigeria kufuatia uchaguzi wa rais Aprili 16, ambapo Bw Goodluck Jonathan aliyetoka upande wa kusini aliibuka mshindi.

Mamia wanaaminiwa kuuawa na maelfu wamekimbia makazi yao.

Haikufahamika iwapo milipuko hiyo ya mabomu mjini Maiduguri, mji mkuu wa jimbo la Borno, lina uhusiano wowote na ghasia hizo.
 
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Governorship election in Nigeria today

Lagos — A NUMBER of governors seeking re-election and their major challengers , yesterday, traded allegations and counter allegations of diversion of electoral materials, intimidation and other rigging schemes allegedly aimed at improving their chances in today's polls

AllAfrica.com:

Tuwaombee amani!
 
Raia wa Nigeria wanapiga kura katika duru ya mwisho katika mchakato mrefu wa uchaguzi uliojaa vurugu.

Uchaguzi wa magavana 36 wenye ushawishi mkubwa umecheleweshwa katika majimbo mawili yaliyoathirika zaidi na ghasia.

Mabomu mengi zaidi yamelipuka kwenye mji wa Maiduguri kaskazini-mashariki mwa mji huo, ambapo takriban watu watatu waliuawa tangu siku ya Jumapili.

Shirika la kutetea haki za bindamu la Nigeria limesema zaidi ya watu 500 walikufa kufuatia ghasia ziliozibuka baada ya uchaguzi wa rais.

Ghasia ziliibuka upande wa kaskazini baada ya Bw Goodluck Jonathan, mkristo kutoka kusini, alipotangazwa kuwa mshindi wa uchaguzi wa Aprili 16.

Makanisa yalichomwa moto na Waislamu walilengwa katika mashambulio ya kulipiza kisasi.

Wakristo wengi walisherehekea sikukuu ya Pasaka kwenye kambi za jeshi ambapo walijihifadhi kutokana na vurugu hizo.

Licha ya kuwepo ghasia, waangalizi wengi walisema uchaguzi umekuwa bora zaidi tangu kurejeshwa kwa uongozi wa kiraia mwaka 1999.

BBC Swahili - Habari - Nigeria yachagua magavana
 
2011 Election: Nigeria Begins Counting Ballots in State Governorship Polls

April 26 (Bloomberg) - Ballot-counting in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, began after today's elections for state governors and legislators, the last of this month's three key polls. Results are expected within 48 hours of the 5 p.m. local time closure of polling stations, according to the West African nation's Independent National Electoral Commission.

Voting, which took place in 26 of 36 states in Africa's top oil producer, is expected to reduce the number of governors who are members of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan's ruling People's Democratic Party after its parliamentary majority was cut in April 9 legislative elections. Problems with insufficient electoral materials that hindered earlier polls didn't recur today, said Solomon Soyebi, a spokesman for the commission.

"Since the beginning of the day, we've not had any report anywhere in the country where there was shortage of personnel or materials," Soyebi told reporters in Abuja, the capital.

At least 600 people were killed across the north in violence that followed Jonathan's victory, the Kaduna-based Civil Rights Congress said yesterday. The violence prompted vote delays in Kaduna and Bauchi states until April 28, while the remaining states will hold theirs when the tenures of the current governors run out.

Low Turnout
"Voter turnout has been quite low in the northern states due to fears of violence," Jibrin Ibrahim, director of the Abuja-based Center for Democracy and Development, which is monitoring the elections, said by phone today. Many voters in the region also stayed away from the polls out of disappointment that former military leader Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim from the north, lost the presidential election, he said.

Nigeria, with a population of more than 150 million people, is roughly split between a mainly Christian south and a north dominated by Muslims. While Buhari won all 12 northern states, Jonathan, a Christian, took 23 of 24 central and southern states.


Under Nigeria's federal system, state governments control a significant share of national revenue, more than 80 percent of which comes from oil exports, make their own laws and run regional administrations.

-Newsnigeriana.com
 
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