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Jonathan Goodluck of Nigeria declared winner in presidential election
Nigeria's Jonathan Goodluck - right
by Joseph Ernest April 19, 2011
Newscast Media LAGOS Nigeria -- Oil-rich Niger -Delta born President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party, yesterday, became the opening product of the first ever credible presidential polls conducted in Nigeria. He is also the first South-South minority tribesman to be elected to the nation's stool, in Aso Rock Villa; in a general election that has been adjudged as free, fair, credible and the best in this part of the world, by local and international election observers.
The unassailable son of Otuoke soil in Bayelsa State, who once "had no shoes to wear", defeated 19 rivals including retired Maj. Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (CPC), Governor Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP) and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (ACN), among others in the decisive election victory.
Report Card presented by the Returning Officer for Presidential Election, Prof. Attahiru Jega, shows that Dr. Jonathan a Christian, polled 22,495,187 votes which is close to twice 12,214,853, the number of his main rival, Gen. Buhari who has a strong showing in his mainly Muslim strongholds. Prof Jega declared that Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the PDP having satisfied the requirement of the law and having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared the winner.
The Nigerian constitution says that a candidate must win at least a quarter of the ballots in 24 states to avoid a run-off. Running battles between protesters and troops broke on Monday in Kano, the main city in the north, the majority-Muslim part of the country from which most of Buhari’s support comes.
A mob used wooden planks to beat two people whose clothing indicated they were probably Christians and protesters stopped cars and demanded that passengers declare support for Buhari, a correspondent of the AFP news agency said.
According to unconfirmed reports, several people have been killed in various parts of the north and a Baptist church has been burnt in Zaria, the hometown of Vice-President Namadi Sambo. The homes of ruling party members were attacked and gunshots were heard in Kaduna state, the state where Zaria is situated, while an explosion injured eight people in a hotel in Kaduna city. Rioting has also taken place in parts of Sokoto, Bauchy and Gombe states.
Observers, including European Union observers' chief Lojze Peterle, described the election as credible but extraordinary results for Jonathan in some parts of his native south have given rise to charges of vote-rigging. Official results gave Jonathan 95 per cent in Akwa Ibom, 99 per cent in Anambra state and 99.63 per cent in Bayelsa - his home state.
The number of deaths has not been released for the moment. But an estimated 15,000 people have already been displaced since the beginning of the troubles at the weekend. Curfews are in place in various places in Kano city and Kaduna state. Add Comments>>
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