Stacey Abrams Observes Nigerian Presidential Election, Opposition Parties Call Results ‘Sham’

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Original Article:

Twice-failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has come up short yet again.

The Georgia Democrat went to Nigeria, Africa's notoriously troubled Democracy, to help instill confidence in the electoral process.

However, violent attacks and voter suppression during Saturday's election, coupled with reported variations in poll opening and closing times, have left the country's main opposition parties more distrustful of authorities.

On election day, Abrams projected confidence in the process, telling a reporter:

“We have seen orderly lines; we have seen long lines, signaling strong enthusiasm. But we've also seen a great deal of cooperation and a very peaceful conversation among voters…”

Following the vote, the electoral commission's delay in reporting results only exacerbated tensions. Many results weren't uploaded for nearly 24 hours after the polls closed.

Speaking on behalf of the opposition parties, Labour Party Chairman Julius Abure claimed that officials were not disclosing images of the results from polling stations, as they had agreed to.

With the vote total still coming in Tuesday evening, Abure called for removing the electoral commission's chairperson and having a new election as soon as possible.

The New York Times further reports:

The election over the weekend in the West African nation — the most populous on the continent, with 220 million people — was the most wide open in years, with a surprise third-party candidate putting up an assertive challenge.

…

With more than two-thirds of the 36 states reporting results, by Tuesday evening, Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the governing All Progressives Congress party appeared some distance ahead of his rivals in the count, with 39 percent of the vote. To win, a candidate needs the most votes, plus 25 percent of the vote in two-thirds of the nation's 36 states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, or I.N.E.C., had said in a statement on Monday that it took “full responsibility” for the logistical problems and delays.

Many Nigerians had looked to the election to put the country back on track after eight years of rule by an ailing president, Muhammadu Buhari — a military dictator turned democrat. Mr. Buhari had reached his two-term limit and was not running for re-election.

Many Nigerians had hoped to move beyond the Buhari era, where the country has teetered on the precipice of a total economic meltdown and security collapse.

Currently, more than 60 percent of the population lives in poverty. Al-Qaeda affiliate Boko Haram is capable of launching terrorist attacks and kidnappings anywhere.

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