16.04.2008 - Source: BBC News

Bayelsa State: Extra troops deploy after a court quashes the election of its governor ("Poll feud in Nigerian oil state") [ID 22899]

Document(s): Open document

03.04.2008 - Source: Integrated Regional Information Network

Rivers State: After reports of massive voting irregularities in favour of ruling party, human rights groups warn of violence in region ("After River State’s flawed elections, violence expected") [ID 22901]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

14 people killed as armed police tried to quell protests in the PDP headquarters over fraud in State Assembly primary election ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19871]

"On November 18, violence marred PDP local government congresses in several states. Fourteen persons were believed to have been killed in Rivers State, and at least five PDP members were wounded during gun battles in Akwa Ibom after armed police were brought to PDP headquarters to quell protests over allegedly doctored lists of delegates for the State Assembly primary election."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

In December 6 persons were killed in riots after primary elections were delayed ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19872]

"From December 8 to 10, approximately six persons in Benue State were killed during riots that broke out after a gubernatorial primary was delayed and the PDP selected an unpopular candidate for the State House of Assembly. No prosecutions were announced in the case."

Document(s): Open document

01.2007 - Source: Human Rights Watch

Political leaders actively sponsored violence to advance their political positions ("World Report 2007") [ID 18975]

"In some cases, unscrupulous political leaders have manipulated intercommunal tensions or have actively sponsored violence to advance their political positions. In August 2006, for example, clashes by rival political gangs in the Rivers state town of Bodo left more than 15 people dead and terrorized the community. The state’s commissioner for finance and a leading member of the state legislature were briefly arrested in connection with that incident. There is widespread concern that the runup to nationwide polls slated for April 2007 will be marred by similar incidents, which were a defining feature of elections held in 2003 and 2004."

Document(s): Open document

08.03.2006 - Source: US Department of State

2003 legislative,- presidential -and gubernatorial elections marred by widespread fraud; turnout for 2003 presidential and gubernatorial elections significantly low ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2005") [#46036],  [ID 17291]

"The 2003 legislative elections were marred by widespread fraud. The turnout was significantly low for the 2003 presidential and gubernatorial elections, which were also marred by widespread fraud. A total of 31 parties participated in the April 2003 national assembly elections, and 19 parties had candidates in the presidential election. The European Union observer mission categorized the quality of the presidential election as extremely poor, stating that in the worst six states, elections effectively were not held, and in the rest of the country the elections were seriously marred. All major independent observer groups, international and domestic, issued negative statements about the fairness of elections and cited problems throughout the country. Problems included ballot stuffing, intentional miscounting, underage voting, multiple voting, intimidation, and violence, including political killings. Although all parties participated in the misconduct, observers cited violations by the ruling PDP significantly more often than those other parties. In December 2004 an election tribunal voided part of the 2003 presidential election results, including the entire result of Ogun State, President Obasanjo's home state, and found that there was significant rigging, but by a 3 to 1 vote declined to overturn the election. The opposition appealed the verdict to the Supreme Court, and in July that court not only upheld the election results, finding that the 2003 election had been "substantially" in compliance with the election law, but the court also reinstated the results that had been voided by the tribunal. The justice delivering the dissenting opinion in the appeals court was dismissed from the judiciary and was living without retirement benefits in the east. On August 12, following a two-year court battle, the Anambra State Elections Tribunal overturned the 2003 gubernatorial election results and declared the All People's Grand Alliance candidate Peter Obi the winner. The previously-recognized winner, Chris Ngige, who had run as a member of the ruling PDP but was later expelled from the party, appealed the ruling and refused to leave office pending his appeal. Members of the ruling PDP had limits imposed on their ability to choose their party's leadership. In January PDP Chairman Audu Ogbeh was forced to resign, reportedly at gunpoint, and President Obasanjo appointed a member of his inner circle as Ogbeh's successor. In October the PDP contravened its own constitution and an Abuja high court order by conducting a nonelective nomination process for party office holders starting at the local level. Some PDP members were selectively denied new party membership cards and were excluded from the nominating conventions. The conventions themselves were limited to affirming predetermined slates of individuals to leadership positions, rather than holding an open and elective nomination process. Although there were more than 500 ministerial and national assembly positions, there were only 3 female ministers, 3 female senators, and 12 female representatives. The law mandates that the composition of the federal, state, and local governments and their agencies, as well as the conduct of their affairs, reflect the diverse character of the country to promote national unity and loyalty. The government was an example of this diversity: President Obasanjo is a Yoruba from the southwest, the vice president is a Fulani from the northeast, and the senate president is an Igbo from the southeast. The government also attempted to balance other key positions among the different regions and ethnic groups. The Senate used its oversight role to reject many of President Obasanjo's ambassadorial appointments and insisted on at least three appointments from each state. The political parties also engaged in "zoning," a practice of rotating positions within the party among the different regions and ethnic groups to ensure that each region was given adequate representation. Despite this effort, with more than 250 ethnic groups, it was difficult to ensure representation of every group in the government (see section 5)."

Document(s): Open document

01.2005 - Source: Danish Immigration Service

According to Professor Utomi neither 1999 nor 2003 elections were considered free and fair; outcome was accepted as Nigerians did not want to return to military dictatorship ("Report on human rights issues in Nigeria: Joint British-Danish fact-finding mission to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria (19 October to 2 November 2004)") [#30412],  [ID 20639]

"Professor Utomi said that although neither the 1999 and 2003 elections were regarded as free or fair, Nigerians accepted the outcome because of a very strong desire not to return to the days of the military dictatorship. After the 1999 elections there was a surge in the popularity of Obasanjo. The 2003 elections were, as someone once commented to Utomi “rigged elections which the President would have won anyway”. Utomi believed that Obasanjo acts as though he has more legitimacy than he really has."

Document(s): Open document