Votes are being counted in some Nigerian constituencies, following longer-than-expected presidential and parliamentary elections.
ADVERTISEMENTVotes are being counted in some Nigerian constituencies, following longer-than-expected presidential and parliamentary elections. Technical problems in some areas, such as here in Lagos, meant voting was extended into a second day.
Abdullahi Sani, a lecturer in English at Adamwa State Polytechnic, outlined what he wanted from the elections.
“I’m longing for a change. A positive change to affect the life of humanity, to protect their reputation, their life, their property, and to eradicate corruption, finally,” he said. “This is what I’m longing and I’m hoping for.”
Attacks on polling stations in the north of the country have left at least 13 dead, while attacks in both the north and the south injured many and made some scared to vote.
Moses Gambo Abba, a civil servant in Madagali local government, said more people might have turned out, had the threat of Boko Haram attacks not been so real.
With emotions running high, analysts say the outcome is too close to call.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said over 60 million people turned out to cast their ballot.
However, on the first (and initially only) day of the vote many of the card-reading machines failed to work, while others were reportedly stolen.
The front-runners in the contest to govern Africa’s richest nation are incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, running for the All Progressives Congress party, (APC).