As many as 39 people have died in election-related violence in Nigeria, as the country awaits the results of this weekend's voting in what is forecast to be its tightest poll since the end of military rule in 1999.
Current President Muhummadu Buhari, 76, a former military ruler is seeking a second term on an anti-corruption platform.
He faces off against businessman Atiku Abubakar, 72, a former vice president who has promised to expand the role of the private sector.
The election was held on Saturday, but violence and problems with electronic voting machines meant voting continued in a small number of places before polls closed on Sunday.
The ballot was initially due to take place last week, but was postponed just hours before it was due to begin, with the authorities citing logistics.
Nigeria's 73 million eligible voters chose from a pool of more than 70 presidential candidates, although only those from the two main parties — Mr Buhari and Mr Abubakar — are seen as having a chance.
The President last year publicly denied social media claims he died and was replaced by a Sudanese clone, and also courted international controversy in the past by suggesting his wife "belongs in the kitchen".
The Situation Room — which represents more than 70 civil society groups — gave Sunday's figure of 39 deaths, citing data from Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence.
In one incident, seven people were killed in a shootout between Nigerian army troops and a gang.
Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said an electoral official had been shot dead by unknown people.
The president's office declined to comment, while the opposition candidate Mr Abubakar condemned the violence in a statement.
The number of deaths reported by Sunday was below the final death tolls in previous elections in Africa's most populous country, but in the past most unrest has taken place after results were announced.
What's at stake?
A credible and relatively calm poll would open a new chapter in the chequered political history of Nigeria, where nearly six decades of independence have been tarnished by military coups, endemic corruption and secessionist movements.
"From Tuesday onwards we should have a substantial number of results," said Festus Okoye, an election commission official.
The contest between Mr Buhari and Mr Abubakar, commonly called "Atiku", hinges on revamping an economy struggling to recover from its first recession in 25 years, which it slipped into in 2016 and emerged from in 2017.
Nearly a quarter of the workforce is unemployed, while the cost of living has also risen rapidly.
Mr Buhari has focused his campaign on rooting out corruption, but critics say there have not been any significant convictions in his first term.
Mr Abubakar has said he would aim to double the size of the economy to $900 billion by 2025.
Reuters
Monday, February 25, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
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Video - Campaigns close at midnight as Nigeria gears up for national poll
Campaign activities in Nigeria are expected to end at 12 midnight local time on Thursday. Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission set the extended deadline after elections due last weekend were postponed. Rescheduled polls are due to take place on Saturday, February 23rd.
Dozens killed in clashes between villagers and 'bandits' in Nigeria
At least 59 "bandits" were killed by a civilian defence force when they attacked a village in northwest Nigeria, security officials and locals said.
Local reports said the death toll could be even higher, after a local government official said 15 other bandits were killed in the nearby village of Danmarke, the AFP news agency reported on Thursday.
"We killed 59 of the bandits and we lost seven men in the fight, which lasted for almost four hours," Bube Shehu, a resident of Danjibga village in Zamfara state, said of the clashes on Wednesday.
Shehu's account was backed by a military officer in the state but there was no immediate corroboration from police.
The worsening security situation in the northwest, President Muhammadu Buhari's strongest regional support base, is one of a number of challenges to his re-election, as voters go to the polls on Saturday.
Farming and herding communities in the region have suffered increasing attacks from criminal gangs who raid villages, steal cattle and kidnap for ransom.
The local official in Danmarke said villagers were frustrated at the lack of protection from security forces and had been forced to take matters into their own hands.
"It is high time people stand up against criminals who attack their villages instead of succumbing to them," he said on condition of anonymity.
Danjibga is a commercial hub 35km south of the state capital Gusau and has been repeatedly attacked.
Threat to security
The attacks have led to a mass exodus of residents to the town of Tsafe, and even across into Buhari's home state of Katsina, which neighbours Zamfara.
Earlier this month bandits killed 26 people when they raided seven villages in the Mada district, according to police.
Last July, Amnesty International said Zamfara state was "at the mercy" of armed bandits who had killed at least 371 people in the first six months of 2018.
In December, an influential traditional chief in the state urged authorities to allow vigilantes to carry assault rifles to defend themselves against bandits.
Last month, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said bandits were mobilised to carry out attacks and "provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections".
Security is an election issue given Buhari's pledge in 2015 to improve safety across the country, not least end Boko Haram's armed campaign.
Al Jazeera
Local reports said the death toll could be even higher, after a local government official said 15 other bandits were killed in the nearby village of Danmarke, the AFP news agency reported on Thursday.
"We killed 59 of the bandits and we lost seven men in the fight, which lasted for almost four hours," Bube Shehu, a resident of Danjibga village in Zamfara state, said of the clashes on Wednesday.
Shehu's account was backed by a military officer in the state but there was no immediate corroboration from police.
The worsening security situation in the northwest, President Muhammadu Buhari's strongest regional support base, is one of a number of challenges to his re-election, as voters go to the polls on Saturday.
Farming and herding communities in the region have suffered increasing attacks from criminal gangs who raid villages, steal cattle and kidnap for ransom.
The local official in Danmarke said villagers were frustrated at the lack of protection from security forces and had been forced to take matters into their own hands.
"It is high time people stand up against criminals who attack their villages instead of succumbing to them," he said on condition of anonymity.
Danjibga is a commercial hub 35km south of the state capital Gusau and has been repeatedly attacked.
Threat to security
The attacks have led to a mass exodus of residents to the town of Tsafe, and even across into Buhari's home state of Katsina, which neighbours Zamfara.
Earlier this month bandits killed 26 people when they raided seven villages in the Mada district, according to police.
Last July, Amnesty International said Zamfara state was "at the mercy" of armed bandits who had killed at least 371 people in the first six months of 2018.
In December, an influential traditional chief in the state urged authorities to allow vigilantes to carry assault rifles to defend themselves against bandits.
Last month, Information Minister Lai Mohammed said bandits were mobilised to carry out attacks and "provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections".
Security is an election issue given Buhari's pledge in 2015 to improve safety across the country, not least end Boko Haram's armed campaign.
Al Jazeera
Nigeria rallies disillusioned voters after postponed elections
Nigerian politicians and businesses have begun introducing measures to encourage people to vote in this weekend's rescheduled presidential and parliamentary elections.
The country's electoral commission delayed the vote just five hours before polls were due to open across Nigeria last Saturday, citing "logistical reasons."
Nigerians can only cast their ballots at polling units in the area where they initially registered, and as a result, there have been concerns over low voter turnout because people who traveled last week may be unwilling (or able to afford) to make another trip to their polling unit after a wasted journey last week.
The Nigerian government has declared the eve of the elections a public holiday, with the exception of bankers and essential service providers.
The holiday is to enable citizens prepare for the election, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement Wednesday, according to local media reports.
"The work-free day is to enable citizens return to their polling units for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections," the statement read.
Reno Omokri, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and a stalwart of the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), said he is offering free transportation to Nigerians in buses called "Buses for Democracy."
The buses will ferry Nigerians to their various destinations regardless of their political affiliations, Omokri said in Twitter post.
There have been additional reports of efforts made to help in the effort to rally voters ahead of the polls.
Two local airlines have offered discounts to voters to boost turnout at the polls.
Arik Air, a domestic carrier to several destinations around the country, introduced a "Fly to Vote" promotion with one-way tickets pegged at N16,000 (about $45).
The airline says the initiative is to encourage people to vote in Saturday's elections and the state elections scheduled for March 9.
Aero Contractors is offering a similar reduction in flight tickets on all its routes across the country.
Reuters news agency also reported that fuel suppliers would cut the price of petrol, quoting the country's Information Minister, Lai Mohammed.
However, local media reports say the various stakeholders involved in reducing fuel prices have yet to make such decision or indicate they are willing to.
CNN was not immediately able to reach Mohammed for a comment to clarify.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, 76, is standing for re-election and will be running against 71 other candidates for the country's highest office.
His main challenger is Atiku Abubakar, 72, a business tycoon and former vice president.
By Aanu Adeoye
CNN
The country's electoral commission delayed the vote just five hours before polls were due to open across Nigeria last Saturday, citing "logistical reasons."
Nigerians can only cast their ballots at polling units in the area where they initially registered, and as a result, there have been concerns over low voter turnout because people who traveled last week may be unwilling (or able to afford) to make another trip to their polling unit after a wasted journey last week.
The Nigerian government has declared the eve of the elections a public holiday, with the exception of bankers and essential service providers.
The holiday is to enable citizens prepare for the election, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement Wednesday, according to local media reports.
"The work-free day is to enable citizens return to their polling units for the rescheduled Presidential and National Assembly elections," the statement read.
Reno Omokri, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and a stalwart of the main opposition party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), said he is offering free transportation to Nigerians in buses called "Buses for Democracy."
The buses will ferry Nigerians to their various destinations regardless of their political affiliations, Omokri said in Twitter post.
There have been additional reports of efforts made to help in the effort to rally voters ahead of the polls.
Two local airlines have offered discounts to voters to boost turnout at the polls.
Arik Air, a domestic carrier to several destinations around the country, introduced a "Fly to Vote" promotion with one-way tickets pegged at N16,000 (about $45).
The airline says the initiative is to encourage people to vote in Saturday's elections and the state elections scheduled for March 9.
Aero Contractors is offering a similar reduction in flight tickets on all its routes across the country.
Reuters news agency also reported that fuel suppliers would cut the price of petrol, quoting the country's Information Minister, Lai Mohammed.
However, local media reports say the various stakeholders involved in reducing fuel prices have yet to make such decision or indicate they are willing to.
CNN was not immediately able to reach Mohammed for a comment to clarify.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, 76, is standing for re-election and will be running against 71 other candidates for the country's highest office.
His main challenger is Atiku Abubakar, 72, a business tycoon and former vice president.
By Aanu Adeoye
CNN
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