The results of Nigeria’s presidential elections are starting to trickle in. Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari won 1.1 million votes in the key northern swing state of Kaduna, more than twice as many as President Goodluck Jonathan.
Muhammadu Buhari has made early wins in several states
Buhari also won by a wide margin in Kano, one of the northern states where Jonathan had the best chance of making inroads.
But already, there are calls for a fresh election, and a warning about the counting process.
Around a hundred women protested in Port Harcourt, saying there hadn’t even been an election in Rivers state, home to Africa’s biggest oil industry.
Buhari supporter, Caroline Nagbo says, “We want the right to vote, we should be given the opportunity to vote, to choose our leaders”
She says police used tear gas to disperse their protest. They’re not the only ones who are concerned.
The United States and Britain say there are worrying signs of political interference in the counting of votes.
This year’s election – which pits Jonathan against Buhari for a second time – is potentially the closest since the end of military rule in 1999.
The weekend election in Africa’s biggest economy was marred by confusion, technical glitches, arguments and occasional violence – but in many places was less chaotic than in previous years.
As results trickle in, some nonetheless fear a repeat of 2011, when elections ended with 800 people killed and tens of thousands displaced.
Ventuno