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Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts) Mon Mar 30, 2015, 04:33 PM Mar 2015

Nigeria election: presidential candidates neck and neck after first set of results

Source: The Guardian

Goodluck Jonathan leads Muhammadu Buhari by a hair’s breadth in general election marred by violence, claims of political interference and technical glitches.

With votes from eight of the country’s 36 states plus the capital city counted, the poll was delicately poised with Jonathan on 47.3% (2,322,734 votes) and Buhari on 46.9% (2,302,978). The process was due to resume at 8pm local time.

Nigeria’s incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, is registered by election officials before voting.

The initial batch appeared to confirm predictions of the most tense and evenly contested election that Africa’s biggest democracy has ever seen. The international community has called for a fair and peaceful exercise that would send a signal to the rest of the continent.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/30/nigeria-general-election-first-set-results-goodluck-jonathan-muhammadu-buhari-neck-and-neck

8 replies

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Nigeria election: presidential candidates neck and neck after first set of results (Original Post) Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 OP

Ooooo Steamy! chowder66 Mar 2015 #1

Goodluck's challenger is a devout Muslim...so I'd be surprised! LOL! Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #4

Goodluck Jonathan? KamaAina Mar 2015 #2

I always have to laugh at that first name, too. Considering Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #3

I hope the loser has millions of dollars for me jberryhill Mar 2015 #5

Well, I'm sure he'll be in touch in short order...check your email, LOL! Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #6

Nigeria: Buhari Leads in Vote Count, Jonathan Ahead in 25 Percent Spread muriel_volestrangler Mar 2015 #7

Sounds worrying, though. On France 24 they were interviewing a bunch of Nigerians Surya Gayatri Mar 2015 #8

chowder66

(9,075 posts)

1. Ooooo Steamy!

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Mon Mar 30, 2015, 04:42 PM

Mar 2015

I read the headline as though they were "necking" a lot. :\

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

4. Goodluck's challenger is a devout Muslim...so I'd be surprised! LOL!

Reply to chowder66 (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 30, 2015, 04:50 PM

Mar 2015

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

2. Goodluck Jonathan?

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Mon Mar 30, 2015, 04:45 PM

Mar 2015

Is that anything like Goodhair Perry?

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

3. I always have to laugh at that first name, too. Considering

Reply to KamaAina (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 30, 2015, 04:48 PM

Mar 2015

what a poor record 'Goodluck' has had dealing with major issues in his country (e.g. Boko Haram).

jberryhill

(62,444 posts)

5. I hope the loser has millions of dollars for me

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Mon Mar 30, 2015, 07:41 PM

Mar 2015

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

6. Well, I'm sure he'll be in touch in short order...check your email, LOL!

Reply to jberryhill (Reply #5)

Mon Mar 30, 2015, 10:16 PM

Mar 2015

muriel_volestrangler

(101,355 posts)

7. Nigeria: Buhari Leads in Vote Count, Jonathan Ahead in 25 Percent Spread

Reply to Surya Gayatri (Original post)

Tue Mar 31, 2015, 06:48 AM

Mar 2015

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), yesterday, released the March 28 presidential election results in 19 of the 36 states (including the Federal Capital Territory). The collation also produced senators-elect from 16 states.

General Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leads in votes count but trails President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 25-per cent spread, as required by the Constitution. Out of the 12, 325, 735 votes counted so far, APC got 7,899,632 ahead of PDP's 4, 426,106 votes.

Whereas the main opposition party got more than 25 per cent votes in 14 states, the PDP, notwithstanding its two million plus deficit in numerical vote strength, appears to be keeping hope alive with its life-line score of more than the statutory 25 per cent of the total votes cast in 16 states. With show of strength in virtually all northern and Southwest (except Ekiti) states so far released by INEC, the APC beats the ruling party in Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kwara, Kaduna (the home state of Vice President Namadi Sambo), Kogi, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Oyo.
...
All eyes are now on Rivers and Delta, where the PDP, is hoping to spring surprises. The APC has already picked holes in the election in Rivers, where the party joined forces with Governor Rotimi Amaechi to accuse the PDP of corrupting the election process. Results from Lagos, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Sokoto and 11 others are also very significant in determining who emerges the President-elect today.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201503310418.html

An explanation of the "25 percent" rule:

The candidate with the most votes is declared the winner in the first round, as long as he gains at least 25% of the votes in two-thirds of Nigeria's 36 states.
...
If there is no outright winner in the first round, the law states a run-off election must be held within seven days. But Inec has said it is doubtful whether a run-off vote could be organized in a week. Victory in a run-off election is by simple majority.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-31111572

So Buhari has, so far, reached the 25% mark in 14 out of 19 states that have been declared; he needs to do that in 10 of the remaining 17, to get a first round victory (assuming he stays ahead in the voter count).

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

8. Sounds worrying, though. On France 24 they were interviewing a bunch of Nigerians

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Reply #7)

Tue Mar 31, 2015, 06:54 AM

Mar 2015

who said the situation is tense on the ground and that the most 'sensitive' states have yet to report.

It would be so fine if they could get through the first 'free and fair' election in their independent history without violence, and where the challenger actually has a chance against the incumbent.

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