Nigeria Election Results: Opposition score major victories

Apr 10th, 2011 · 33 Comments

Results from Nigeria’s parliamentary elections show the opposition scoring some major victories over the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

Nigerian newspapers report the speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was beaten in his home constituency by a candidate from the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria .

The daughter of former president Olusegun Obasanjo also lost to an ACN candidate.

The overall trend showed the ACN winning many races in Nigeria’s southwest, where the economic capital Lagos is located. Another party, the Congress for Progressive Change, was making a strong showing in the north.

Saturday’s elections went ahead after two postponements and in spite of bombings at election-related sites in the cities of Maiduguri and Suleja.

International observers said the voting appeared to be generally free and fair, but there was some disorganization related to a high turnout.

Nigeria’s election commission is trying to move past a history of flawed polls marked by violence and fraud.

The European Union declared the 2007 elections “not credible” because of widespread disorder, ballot-box stuffing, and intimidation attempts.

Saturday’s elections had been postponed twice because voting materials had not arrived at polling stations. About 15 percent of the races were still not held Saturday because of continuing ballot problems. It remains unclear when those constituencies will vote.

Nigeria is scheduled to hold its presidential election next Saturday, April 16. President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking his first full term against a field of 19 challengers, including former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. voa

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  • IBRAHIM D.

    I am happy that Nigerians decide to be truly democratic. The 2011 Gen. Elec. seems to be fairly and orderly.The wings of the Do Or Die school of marauders are clipped for good and not for luck. God in his infinite mercies is fighting for the majority of us. We shall continue to pray for Nigeria. Goodluck and Buhari are the options. Ribadu is immature for presidency.PDP’s past corrupt posture is dwindling Jonathan’s popularity, and his denial to the zoning arrangement of the PDP in which claimed he was not a party to it, whereas, evidence abound added salt to an injury. Buhari’s delimited by his new party and the non acceptability by most southern region.God help us AMEEN.

  • Ada eze

    I didnt vote last weekend coz i was scared…but this weekend,i will vote for a progressive change,which is GOODLUCK JONATHAN….Kudos to jega

  • Benjamin Agosu

    As long we are not silence in prayer. Surely nigeria glory will be restored back with this wind of change blowing across the world.. Let play our part and leave the rest for Almighty God

  • emeka

    I think this is to show that when an incumbent is not out to steal ballots, things tend to show in the positive direction. Dr Goodluck has demonstrated this fact. But the most concern to all Nigerians is not which party controlls which house. What Nigerians are demanding is true gorvernance. Make energy supply and security a thing of priority. This will enable the citizens creat more jobs. It is still very disgraceful that a nation like Nigeria can not offer to her people constant energy supply. Do not ask who will pay for the service. The de-regulation of NITEL services has proven that we can do it. Again, what is Nigeria embassy to United States doing with Nigerians trying to renew or obtain new passports. Is it not ridiculous to say that nigeria has only one passport processing machine that is carried from one state to the other. What kind of service is this that one residing in maryland will travel to Atlanta or California to have this document processed. Embassy officials only explanation is that equipment meant to be set up at Washington DC embassy is broken or has not been set up. Nigeriaaaaa—, when will all this shameful behavior be put aside and let us for once behave like a nation that is gorvrned by people with concience.

  • ALANKUA

    Thank you fellow Nigerians for coming out to vote in record number to affect change. For those of us leaving overseas let us be part of the process by encouraging our people back home to vote for real change and not feelings. We all need to see Nigeria grow and surpass countries like South Africa and Ghana. Kudos Nija!!

  • Bhamus ramon

    This another fair and peaceful electionin nigeria since 1993 were chief MKO Abiola won. i belief democracy have come and stay in nigeria, were by other africa countries and other in the worlds will like to emulate. more upset will still recorded as election is progressing. GOD BLESS NIGERIA AND LAGOS

  • Ogbonna gerald

    We should’nt be surprie about d changes we are seeing in Nigerian electorial process.change is constant as we all know, and too everything has its elastic limit.Nigeria is steping up and we must allow this change to come.

  • Osioh

    Naija people make una come out n exercise una right by Voting our Man GOODLUCK JONATHAN on saturday so that good luck go come to Niaja oooooooooo. Meanwhile we stil no say na thesame N.P.C (NORTHERN PEOPLE CONGRESS) dey still rule us under the name of P.D.P. we nor bi MUGU sha, but make we just let go so that at least southerners can still taste from the NATIONAL CAKE.

    O.E

  • Chuks.

    Last wkend elections were reasonably free & fair. I saw intelligent voting from d voters, showing Nigerians resolve for positive change. This saturday, we shall vote for a change agent, president Jonathan. Sincerely speaking, his few months in office shows a significant shift &clear picture of a better future for Nigerians. Let us give him d mandate to execute his planned strategic transformation of our dear country. Jega Last wkend elections were reasonably free & fair. I saw intelligent voting from d voters, showing Nigerians resolve for positive change. This saturday, we shall vote for a change agent, president Jonathan. Sincerely speaking, his few months in office shows a significant shift &clear picture of a better future for Nigerians. Let us give him d mandate to execute his planned strategic transformation of our dear country. Jega weldone! God help Nigeria. Reply

    • emeka

      Excellent thinking. Let them make energy and security a priority. I think it is long over due.

  • Tola

    Don’t celebrate Nigeria so early. Just keep watching if you hate dissapointment.

    • ola

      no I won’t sit back and watch, I’ll rather be part of the change, praise success and boo failure

  • Olorunnisola daniel

    What is most important is that the outcome of the federal legislature result should disarm any party from having the 2/3 majority needed to make any absolute selfish decision. This will give room for free and fare debates and enactment in the 2 houses. Thus ewperiencing true democracy in our governance.

  • BELLO

    Fellow Nigeria we hv not complet our job until we massively remove pdp from aso rock as those of them that lose are stil claim that they have power above. Note.they may renforce if we dont REMOVE MR. JONA there last hope.God bless Naija

    • Ben

      Bello,
      It is unfortunate u still think like dat at this time. Really unfortunate. It is time we vote for INDIVIDUALS not PARTY. Nigeria MUST move forward but in moving forward, we MUST change our mindset. We must think of a better Nigeria void of partisan politics and vote credible people irrespective of their party, religion, genda or tribe. Think Nigeria of tommorrow.

    • dubi baba

      we need change that all we need in nigeria .all the old fools that have been rulling nigeria 4 years. without doing nothing 4 us most leave there seats

      god bless nigeria

  • Abiodun a.k.a H.O.D

    despite the fact that we are yet to see d hand written of prof jega but we highly appreciate his effort. prof keep on, nigeria is praying 4 u. with this fair election that we just conducted, i can now say it boldly that am proud to be a nigerian. 3 gbosa for prof jega.

  • Gbenga Dosumu

    Its just about time we vote out pdp,a party that has failed to move Nigeria forward in the last 12 years.
    Pls Nigerians let us vote Buhari who has been incorruptible,a soldier’s soldier,A warrior against indiscipline,a patriot soft spoken but a man of courage
    Nigeria needs to take its rightful place in the commity of progresive nations
    It is time for Progressive Change.

  • selencious

    Peace is coming back to Nigeria..Watch out!!

  • mike umoren

    It is good news that the election of 9th April 2011 is seen to be generally free and fair, it is representative of the progess we have made as a nation, though a small step it is very significant.The duty to elect credible represntatives lies with all Nigerians, everyone should come out to vote and everyone connected with the election as INEC staff (both permanent and temporary) the Youth Coppers, the party agents and all voters should ensure that rigging is not allowed, The challenges of the Presidential and Gubernitorial elections are going to be more but if we remain resolute we shall again deliver free and fair election. Well done to everybody that was involved in the electoral process, you have made Nigeria proud.

  • its only God in heaven dat wil reward prof jega!

    we are yet to see d hand wirriten of prof jega cos d ones ahead wil b surprising to nigerians. Tank God for his mercy on nigeria! Kudos!

  • Dapsy

    I pray this momentum will carry over into next saturday’s presidential poll to remove PDP completely from governance. Useful lot; they claim to be largest party in Africa.. but only because they had an unfettered reign of election rigging and result manipulation right from 2003 when they stole the entire south-west to their 2007 ‘do or die’ electoral hijack. God bless you Jega and the rest of INEC who are determined this time around to allow the will of the people shine through.
    When the people’s voice is eventually heard next Saturday, then the whole world will truly see the empty boast of a party that has for the last 8 years usurped the mandate Nigerians freely gave to others. Largest party in Africa… in their dreams!

    • Johnson

      I agree with you that the peoples votes now counts. But I do want to draw the line. We must stop being perochial in our thoughts and arguments thinking that it is the party that makes good or bad governance. The question is, will Fashola of Lagos state be a bad ruler if he were a PDP? You need to be grateful for the person of Jonathan who God is using to bring about genuine leadership into Nigeria. He introduced Gega, he believed in Gega whom unfortunately most of you have been calling for his head as a result of a genuine postponment.

      Take it or leave it, we have God to thank for giving us a person of Goodluck Jonathan to lead us to the promised land.

  • Murphy

    Hmm! Lot of thanks to the prof. He has really done a grate job, we pray he will keep this going in the subsequent elections. Nigerians give him kudos. Jegga, you are wonderful.

  • Bright

    Thanks to these nigerians that went and cast their votes for a better political change in nigeria.Please keep voting for credible persons you know have nigeria at heart and not those that selves centred.These votes decides your future and the next generation to come.And don’t take money to vote for corrupts elements that would want to ruined nigerian future.Vote credible as God will you while you do this in good faith for nation,nigeria

  • SAMA

    Really this is revolution in our country. we dont need 2 do violence b4 we change our govt. pls come out and cast ur vote on Saturday 16 april, ur vote is ur right.

  • Bright

    Thanks these nigerians that went and cast their for a better change in nigeria.Please,keep voting for credible persons you know have nigeria at heart,and not those that are selves centred.These votes decides your future and next generation to come.And don’t take money to vote,as God will guard you while you do this in good faith

  • EMMANUEL

    wow, i believe revolution is setting in NIGERIA. this is indeed NIGERIA @ 50, this is actually a step forward to where we ought to be………. GOD BLESS NIGERIA

  • Ahmad

    So now is the battle between buhari and ribado one of them come a new leader of nigeria bey the willing of ALLAH don’t be scare guys cameout and cast your vote. Your vote is your warpon and your cast is the right hollo nigeria hollo nigeria. New nigerian reborn

    • Abba Isma’eel Tangalashi.gwale,Kano.

      Hullo! Dan uwa. i’m hapy dat dia are many loyal supotas of Baba Buhari mai sa’a including u.i wish u d bst of luck for u’r gorgious coments. But first let join our hands and cast our weapons(votes) for janar, u knew he nid Allah’s suppot den our’s.insha Allah come may 29, Baba wil be escoted to aso villa in a flamboyant styl.

  • Kayode aworinde

    Well, the electorates voted for a change, but trust the pdp people. They changed the results at the collating centres after bribing the security men and chasing opposition agents out. Soilders drove Agents of other parties out at iloffa in kwara state.

  • Joel

    if u stay at home and dont go to church,you are proud and not a christian because if you read the bible you will see in HEBREW 10v25 that we should not forsake the gathering of the brethren, but God is not angry with you,you are just ignorant and He will reveal Himself to you if you seek him

    • Christopher

      Please I dont know how your comments corresponds wit the issue @ hand. We are discussing politics here and Nigerian politics in particulars not religious views. So please place your appropriately. Thank u