Nigeria presidential poll is marred by voting irregularities and violence

Nigeria presidential poll is marred by voting irregularities and violence
By Euronews
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Counting is underway in Nigeria’s presidential election which has been marred by violence and irregularities. Voting had to be extended into a

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Counting is underway in Nigeria’s presidential election which has been marred by violence and irregularities.

Voting had to be extended into a second day on Sunday following technical problems with ID machines designed to eliminate fraud..

For the first time since the end of military rule in 1999 an opposition candidate is being seen as having a serious chance of winning.

President Goodluck Jonathan and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a strong challenge from former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC).

But there has been tension in the wealthy oil rich south in Rivers State where opposition protesters complained of being excluded from the count.

Nigeria’s electoral commission chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega said it would be investigated.

“We are concerned about what seems to be happening in Rivers State, there are many alleged cases of malpractices and we certainly pay a lot of attention to investigating this.”

Islamist insurgents Boko Haram also launched several drive-by shootings killing at least 15 people trying to vote. And there have been allegations that opposition workers have been killed in separate attacks.

"One of the most vicious, unprincipled, vulgar and violent election exercises I have ever witnessed,” – Wole Soyinka http://t.co/f1cqKit5oj

— Omar Waraich (@OmarWaraich) March 30, 2015

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