ABUJA, Feb 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Vote counting is under way in Nigeria’s tightest presidential election since military rule ended in 1999.
Voting was marred by long delays as polling stations failed to open on time in some areas because of logistical problems and security incidents.
Turnout appeared to be high, with many young, first-time voters arriving before dawn to cast their ballots.
The elections are the biggest democratic exercise in Africa, with 87 million people eligible to vote.
Politics has been dominated by two parties – the ruling APC and the PDP – since the restoration of multi-party democracy 24 years ago.
But this time, there is also a strong challenge from a third-party candidate in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari – the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who is backed by many young people.
The results are being counted at tens of thousands of polling stations, and will be collated and sent to the electoral headquarters in the capital Abuja.
The final result is not expected until at least Tuesday.
At a press briefing, the electoral chief, Mahmood Yakubu said that armed men had attacked some polling units in the southern state of Delta and the northern state of Katsina, where voter card verification machines were carted away.
They were subsequently replaced and security boosted to allow voting to take place, he said.
There have been also been reports of violence and ballot boxes being snatched in Lagos, Nigeria’s biggest city.
In the north-eastern state of Borno, Yakubu said that militant Islamists had opened fire on electoral officers from a mountain top in the Gwoza area, injuring a number of officials.
Voters also cast their ballots for 109 federal senators and 360 members of the house of representatives, with another vote for state governors in March.
A presidential candidate needs to have the most votes and 25% of ballots cast in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states to be declared the winner.
Otherwise, there will be a run-off within 21 days – a first in Nigeria’s history. — NNN-AGENCIES
