The Lagos state governor — Babajide Sanwo-Olu — has been comfortably re-elected for the ruling party after what was expected to be a tight race against his rival from the Labour Party. Security remains tight across Nigeria as vote counting continues following Saturday's elections for more than 900 assembly legislators and 28 state governors. Election officials reported that some ballot boxes had been snatched by thugs in Lagos. Violence and voter intimidation were also reported in other cities. Al Jazeera's Ahmed Idris reports from Kano, Nigeria.
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Video - Lagos governor re-elected in win for Nigeria’s ruling party
Video - Nigeria skilled labor force leaving to other countries
Nigeria is continuously losing its skilled workers to foreign countries. This mass exodus is known locally as "Japa", which is a Yoruba word for run or flee. But as the most populous African country prepares to install a new president in May this year, there are calls to urgently address this trend by ensuring economic growth, and creating an environment for young people to thrive.
Related stories: Over 10,000 doctors left Nigeria for UK in last 7 yrs
How Nigeria can stop doctors’ brain drain – NMA chairman
Frustrated Nigerians 'flee' abroad in punishing pre-election brain drain
Video - Nigeria among nations with the least obesity preparedness worldwide
Nigeria is among the countries around the world with the least level of obesity preparedness. This was disclosed in a recent report published by the World Obesity Federation. Stakeholders are concerned that this could affect both the health sector and the economy of the nation.
Authorities Brace for Unrest as Gubernatorial Election Winners Announced in Nigeria
Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared results for 12 states so far, including the economic hub of Lagos, where incumbent governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the ruling party was reelected.
But observers say Saturday's elections were characterized by widespread violence, voter suppression and intimidation.
Local media reported that 21 people were killed and scores injured across the country.
In Imo state, police rescued 17 INEC staffers abducted by gunmen on the morning of the elections as they were heading to their polling units.
Rights group Amnesty International condemned the violence.
"There were pockets of violence and prevention of people to make their choices in the ballot, disrupting electoral processes and campaign of calumny, and the employment of thugs. We strongly condemn such human rights violations," said Aminu Hayatu, Amnesty International's conflict researcher.
Amnesty International said social media was used to incite tribal hatred and ethnic slurs and urged social media companies like Twitter, Meta and WhatsApp to improve their screening-out of hateful content.
There were also issues of staff delays and technical difficulties during Saturday's polls.
But Nigeria's information minister, Lai Mohammed, who voted in his hometown in south-west Kwara state, said the election was one of the most credible in Nigeria's recent history.
Idayat Hassan, director at the Center for Democracy and Development, disagrees.
"The likelihoods of postelection violence are high but how widespread is what we do not know," Hassan said. "Considering this is a projection, the response of the state is what we should actually be looking out for. How will the Nigerian state be able to timely nip any form of insecurity in the bud with the minimum use of force?"
Kano state authorities have imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in anticipation of unrest as more results are announced.
Amnesty International wants authorities to identify and punish promoters of election violence.
"Such are violations against the international human rights law which Nigeria is signatory to. We're calling on [the] government to investigate and fish out those who are behind such human rights violations, irrespective of who they are," Hayatu said.
Last month, observers said the presidential election in which the ruling party's Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared the winner lacked transparency and didn't meet the expectations of most citizens.
Experts said there's heightened tension in many states, including Adamawa state where incumbent governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the People's Democratic Party and Senator Aishatu Ahmed-Binani of the All Progressive Congress are locked in a tough race.
Ahmed-Binani is the first woman with a realistic chance of being elected governor in Nigeria.
By Timothy Obiezu, VOA
Related story: State elections postponed in Nigeria due to dispute of presidential vote
Peter Obi challenges Nigeria's presidential election result in court
Nigeria's opposition Labour Party candidate Peter Obi has filed a court petition challenging last month's disputed presidential election, the party said, kicking off what could be a long legal campaign lasting several months.
There have been numerous legal challenges to the outcome of previous Nigerian presidential elections but none has succeeded.
Obi campaigned as an outsider, galvanised young and first-time voters and had appeared to throw the contest wide open, raising some voters' hopes for change after years of hardship and violence under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, 80, a former army general.
But Obi came third behind winner Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress party (APC) and main opposition People's Democratic Party's (PDP) Atiku Abubakar, both of whom had powerful political machines and decades of networking behind them.
The APC and PDP have, between them, governed Nigeria since the end of military rule in 1999.
"We are challenging the qualifications of the candidate that was declared the winner. We are also challenging the processes that led to his declaration as the winner, among others," Labour Party spokesperson Yunusa Tanko told Reuters.
Election observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth and other bodies reported a range of problems, among them failures in systems designed to prevent vote manipulation.
The observers criticised the electoral commission for poor planning and voting delays, but they did not allege fraud. The commission itself apologised for the technical problems during the count.
The Appeals Court will sit as a tribunal and has 180 days to hear and make a ruling on Obi's challenge. Atiku has also said he would petition the court and has until midnight on Wednesday to file his papers.
If a candidate is not satisfied with the outcome of the tribunal, they can approach the Supreme Court, which will deliberate on an appeal within 60 days.
Nigeria's next president will be sworn in on May 29.
There were several cases of violence and voter intimidation in last month's presidential vote as well as this weekend's governorship polls. Turnout was low despite the highest number of registered voters, at 93 million.
The APC won 15 of the 28 governorship races, including commercial hub Lagos, compared to PDP's 8 and one went to a regional northern party.
Elections in two states were declared inconclusive and counting was suspended in two others due to violence.
By Camillus Eboh, Reuters
Related stories: Presidential election in Nigeria was positive for the region
Video - Opposition candidate Peter Obi says he will prove he won presidential election in Nigeria
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)