Britain slams ‘outright rigged’ election in Nigeria

The electoral commission gave the ruling party candidate, Umaru Yar’Adua, a landslide victory in Saturday’s poll, but the opposition called for it to be cancelled and held again after international observers said the result was not credible.

“It was not just a question of disorganisation, but there was outright rigging and the results were frankly not credible,” High Commissioner Richard Gozney said at a reception in Lagos on Thursday night.

“It is up to Nigerians to decide what should happen next. But we do make a plea for people to stick strictly to constitutional means,” he added.

About 200 people were killed over several months in election-related violence, and observers said the vote itself was marred by widespread ballot-stuffing, thuggery and disenfranchisement.

A bomb exploded in the electoral headquarters of the central state of Benue on Thursday night, destroying sensitive documents but hurting no-one, the state news agency said on Friday.

Benue is one state where the opposition has accused the ruling People’s Democratic Party of massive rigging and voter intimidation.

President Olusegun Obasanjo is due to hand over to Yar’Adua on May 29, in what would be the first transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.

Obasanjo has conceded that the poll was not perfect, and urged the opposition to seek redress through election tribunals.

Gozney also referred to this route. “The tribunals are there, other peaceful means, but constitutional means,” he said.

Some opposition groups have called for the National Assembly to install an interim government headed by Senate President Ken Nnamani to run fresh elections, but Nnamani has rejected the idea as unconstitutional.

The opposition is planning a series of mass protests starting on Tuesday, when trade unions stage their annual May Day parade.

“If constitutionality prevails in Nigeria over the next few weeks that in itself will be a very big step forward,” Gozney said, adding that Britain would not accept or endorse any unconstitutional outcome.