U.S. State Department Calls on Nigerian Opposition to Protest “Seriously Flawed” Elections by Constitutional Means
April 30, 2007 | Printer Friendly

The U.S. State Department released a statement Monday calling the recent electoral process in Nigeria “seriously flawed,” and a “missed opportunity to strengthen an element of its democracy.”  It also urged Nigerians “to eschew violence or any other extra-constitutional actions that would foster insecurity and hamper political dialogue.” 

Reuters is reporting that despite the call to address irregularities by constitutional means, many experts believe there is not enough time for this to happen, calling an overturn of the results “unlikely.”  Current Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo is scheduled to hand over power to his successor, Umaru Yar’Adua, in five weeks.  The government has said that any delay in the handover of power would be considered unconstitutional, and many others fear such a delay “would be invitation to chaos,” citing the possibility of a military coup. 

Opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari has also voiced his reluctance “to go back to the courts…”  because he spent two unsuccessful years contesting the 2003 re-election of President Obasanjo, which are widely believed to be fraudulent.  Despite the “slim” chances of overturning the elections, Nigerian opposition parties continued to stage mass protests.

References:

Reuters: Time running out for defeated Nigerian opposition

U.S. State Department Press Release: Nigeria's Elections