His chief opponent Atiku Abubaker disputes this and alleges there were irregularities in the vote that was delayed by a week.

ends intro

Election observers from the European Union, United States and African Union have expressed concern about delays in the arrival of voting material and malfunctioning of electrical voting machines that led to voting going into a second day in some centres.

They’re also critical of the electoral commission  delaying the elections by a week.

But none have supported the claims of fraud by the opposition People’s Democratic Party.

Early results have incumbent Muhammadu Buhari winning seven of Nigeria’s 36 states.

Atiku Abubaker is given two states and the capital Abuja.

The post Muhammadu Buhari takes and early lead after Nigerian elections appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

They’ll defy the instruction of the Independent  Electoral Commission that campaign should have stopped before the original voting late last Saturday.

President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s dismissed Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission as incompetent.

This is the body that postponed the elections for a week for purely logistical reasons.

Buhari’s urged the authorities to act ruthlessly against anyone trying to rig the poll.

His ruling All Progressives Congress will resume campaigning today and stop on Thursday, ahead of Saturday’s voting.

The Peoples Democratic Party of his major opponent Atiku Abubaker agrees that the electoral commission is wrong trying to stop campaigning and says candidates will be back on the stump until Thursday.

The post Nigerian parties defy electoral commission to resume campaigning ahead of delayed election appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Nasir El Rufai’s threat has prompted European Union observers to emphasize they are ruled by a code of conduct that prevents them from interfering in elections.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El Rufai was responding to a statement by Britain, the EU and US that the credibility of Nigeria’s elections could be compromised by President Muhammadu Buhari suspending the country’s Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s appealed to Western governments to ensure the ruling All Progressives Congress does not succeed in trying to rig the election.

Britain and the United State say they’ll deny visas to any Nigerian politician who tries to rig the poll.

The post Foreigners trying to intervene in next week’s Nigerian election are warned they’ll go home in body bags appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Atiku Bubakar, who’s has developed a reputation as an opportunist, will be making his fourth attempt to get the top job.

Even though he spent more time out of the country last year receiving medical treatment that he was behind his desk, the ruling All People’s Congress has endorsed Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate for next year’s presidential election.

And the Peoples Democratic Party has chosen billionaire businessman Atiku Bubakar as its candidate.

Formerly vice president under Olusegun Obassanjo, Bubakar quit that party to join Buhari in power in 2015.

He switched back to the PDP last year, leaving 

Nigerians with an unenviable choice between the unscrupulous and the unwell to lead them. 

The post Unenviable choice for Nigerians in next year’s Presidential poll appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

While the NVA says the President’s statement on his health is a message of hope, the PDP said it wished the President well.

The doctors association says President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence, now longer than month,  could create some gaps, which could lead to a power play at the federal level.

Buhari says the results of a series of checkups he carried out in the course of his medical vacation had shown that he needs a longer period of rest.

He says  this necessitates his staying back in London longer than initially planned.

The President issued  four-paragraph statement made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,  Femi Adesina.

It  did not disclose how long the President’s longer period of rest would take.

The post Muhammadu Buhari says he has to extend his medical holiday in Britain appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s conceded defeat and congratulated the former military ruler who last came to power in Nigeria via a coup in 1993.

Muhammadu Buhari has been claiming victory for some hours – saying Goodluck Jonathan’s acceptance of defeat was just a matter of time.

The transition is a victory for democracy in Africa.

It passes the ultimate test of a peaceful transfer of power.

Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party has been in power since 1999.

Security forces were bracing themselves for the loser of last Saturday’s election crying foul.

Buhari now has his work cut out keeping his promise, as a tough military man, to defeat the insurgency of islamist terror group Boko Haram.

The post Buhari wins, Jonathan concedes defeat appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

The country’s election body says the delay is caused by technical hitches, protests and violence from Boko Haram.

After millions of Nigerians cast their ballots on Saturday and Sunday, the electoral commission said it would tonight name the winner between incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.

The United Nations, the African Union and the regional grouping ECOWAS have all praised the poll and called on Nigerians to respect its outcome.

This, despite technical problems that affected Jonathan personally. His registration to vote was delayed by the technology, which was introduced to prevent fraud.

His Peoples Democratic Party, which is in danger of being toppled after 16 years in power, calls this a huge national embarrassment.

The post Nigeria’s election results delayed until Tuesday appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Obasanjo, who’s been fiercely critical of Jonathan, publicly tore up his People’s Democratic Party card.

Obasanjo’s decision is a major blow to the PDP, showing the divisions that have hit the party as it battles to extend its 15-year rule.

The party describes Obasanjo as a revered leader and says it’s deeply saddened by his resignation.

The Nigerian military issued its own statement, calling Obasanjo, a former military ruler as well as an elected president, a serious embarrassment after he criticised its role in the postponement of the elections.

The statement raises concerns that the military is taking sides in a political dispute rather than remaining neutral.

The post Former president quits Nigeria’s ruling party appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.