Nigerian opposition rejects election result

Nigeria's main opposition party yesterday rejected President Olusegun Obasanjo's victory in the presidential election and said it would not recognise his government.

"Any government formed on the basis of this so-called election shall be illegitimate. We shall not recognise it," the All Nigeria Peoples' party said.

Its candidate lost to Mr Obasanjo, the incumbent, by a two-to-one margin, according to official results from the April 19 election.

Confusion reigned at the headquarters of the electoral commission last night after the opposition took over the podium set for the proclamation of Mr Obasanjo's victory, Reuters correspondents said.

The opposition leader, Don Etiebet, said opposition parties refused to sign their approval of the election results.

International observers criticised the election as deeply flawed, but held back from calling it illegitimate, calculating that Mr Obasanjo would have won even without fraud.

But the results from several southern states were surreal, with Mr Obasanjo scoring nearly 100% on a high turnout in areas where voters had largely boycotted the poll.

EU observers spoke of "serious irregularities and fraud". The Washington-based National Democratic Institute reported "ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and violence".

But there was little international appetite to challenge an outcome that most diplomats agree offers the best bet for the stability of an oil-rich regional superpower with a combustible ethnic and religious mix. The Commonwealth said in most of Nigeria a "largely successful effort was made to enable people to vote freely".

With ballots counted in 759 of 774 areas, Mr Obasanjo had 24m votes, or a 62% share. His People's Democratic party also claimed most parliamentary seats and governorships.