Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - Clashes broke out in northern Nigeria while the outgoing President, Goodluck Jonathan, appears to be leading in the partial counting of votes for the presidential elections that were held April 16. Incidents are reported in Kano and Kaduna, where the majority of voters voted for the former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari. In northern Nigeria, mostly Muslim, quite a number of politicians and voters deny that Jonathan, a Christian candidate has violated the rule of alternation between a Christian and a Muslim President. Jonathan came to power after the illness and death of former President Umaru Yar'Adua (Muslim), to whom he was the Vice President. For this reason, Jonathan says that he did not carry out a full term mandate and therefore has the right to run for the presidency without violating the rule of alternation between Christians and Muslims .
On April 9 parliamentary elections were held. In a note sent to Fides Fr. Peter Babangida Audu, Coordinator of the Commission for “Justice and Peace” (JDPC, Development Justice and Peace Commission) of the Archdiocese of Kaduna said that "the parliamentary elections on April 9 were held in a rather peaceful atmosphere in the State of Kaduna”. The JDPC of Kaduna sent 500 observers to verify the correctness of the poll. According to Father Audu, although some irregularities were found, the election as a whole, was carried out correctly. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 04/18/2011)
