It's being labelled the tightest presidential election in Africa's most populous nation because the finish of the navy rule in 1999.
Vote counting is beneath manner in Nigeria and turnout gave the impression to be excessive. It may take days till the ultimate, official result's introduced.
Marred by lengthy delays at polling stations, in addition to scattered stories of poll field snatching and assaults by armed males, some pissed off Nigerians solid their ballots with flashlights whereas others stood watch at their polling stations as counting obtained beneath manner late Saturday amid fears of vote tampering.
Election officers blamed the delays on logistical points, although different observers pointed to the upheaval created by a redesigned foreign money that has left many unable to acquire financial institution notes. The money scarcity affected transport not just for voters but in addition election staff and law enforcement officials offering safety.
Voting ended effectively past schedule in lots of locations after delays however some had been nonetheless voting in a couple of areas the place the train stretched into the evening. Within the northwest Bauchi state, Lagos-based Channels TV reported that voters had been nonetheless voting utilizing their torchlights at round 9 pm.
And in Abuja and Delta state, voters caught round to observe the method and make sure the outcomes weren't tampered with.
“Dusk has come — something can occur (now),” Torke Ezekiel mentioned after casting his poll.
Whereas there have been fears of violence on Election Day, from Islamic militants within the north to separatists within the south voting was largely peaceable Saturday although a dramatic scene unfolded within the megacity of Lagos within the mid-afternoon.
Mahmood Yakubu, head of Nigeria’s election fee, mentioned nationwide collation of ends in the presidential election would start at midday on Sunday. In 2019, the winner of the presidential election was introduced 4 days after the voting day.
“We're making very regular progress and we'll proceed to make sure that nothing truncates our democracy or truncates the need of the Nigerian individuals,” mentioned Yakubu, the election chief.
Nevertheless, Mucahid Durmaz, senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, a worldwide danger intelligence firm, mentioned voting “has been very sophisticated for Nigerians.”
There have been “widespread complaints about late-arriving officers, nonfunctioning machines, low presence of safety and assaults on polling stations," he added.
Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari is stepping down after two four-year phrases in Nigeria, a West African nation the place unemployment has soared to 33% whilst one of many continent's high oil producers.
Out of the sector of 18 presidential candidates, three front-runners emerged in current weeks: the candidate from Buhari's ruling get together, the principle opposition get together candidate and a third-party challenger who has drawn sturdy help from youthful voters.
Nevertheless it remained unclear what number of voters had been deterred due to the money disaster, which has left Nigerians with funds of their financial institution accounts unable to acquire the money they want for issues like gasoline and taxis.
Post a Comment