The United States congratulated Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo on his re-election in the country’s April 19 poll, which it hailed as ”largely peaceful”.
In a statement, the White House noted that ”the widespread violence predicted by many did not happen, and voter turnout in most places was encouraging”.
At least 30 people were killed in political violence during the presidential and parliamentary elections in April.
But most observers said the level of violence was less than expected in a country which has seen more than 10 000 slaughtered in mob violence since Obasanjo came to power.
While the White House noted ”with concern” reports of voting irregularities from domestic and international poll monitors, it welcomed the decision by the two main opposition parties to refer their complaints to the Nigerian Electoral Tribunal.
”We urge the Nigerian authorities to safeguard a credible and transparent legal grievance process,” it said.
Obasanjo was declared the victor in the April 19 presidential election, and is due to begin his second four-year term at the helm of Africa’s most populous country on May 29.
But the opposition, in particular defeated presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari’s All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), have rejected the election as invalid, claiming that there was widespread fraud. – Sapa-AFP