Jonathan Declared Winner in Nigeria; Riots Break Out in North 18 April 2011 VOA News
Election officials in Nigeria Monday declared President Goodluck Jonathan the winner of the nation's presidential election, as riots broke out in the mainly Muslim north to protest the outcome.
Officials say Mr. Jonathan received more than 22 million votes in Saturday's polls, nearly twice the number of his main challenger, former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, who garnered about 12 million.
Mr. Jonathan won enough votes to avoid a run-off, taking 57 percent of the votes cast.
News of Mr. Jonathan's win sparked riots across Nigeria's northern region.
The Nigerian Red Cross estimated that more than 270 people have been wounded and another 15,000 displaced by the violence.
Opposition supporters claimed the vote was rigged and they set fire to homes, burned tires and hurled rocks at police to protest the results. None of the country's opposition parties signed on to the final election results and Mr. Buhari's party filed a formal challenge.
President Jonathan appealed Monday for an end to the violence and what he called “partisan battlegrounds.” He said no one's political ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Many in the Muslim-majority north backed Mr. Buhari, a Muslim. President Jonathan, a Christian, dominated the mostly Christian south.
The Red Cross said Monday that field workers responding to the election violence bypassed bodies in order to rush the injured to hospitals, particularly in Kaduna and Kano states.
A 24-hour curfew was imposed in Kaduna state, where angry rioters clashed with police and set homes on fire in the cities of Kaduna and Zaria.
In the capital of Kano state , security forces fired shots into the air as stone-throwing youths took to the streets and chanted support for Mr. Buhari.
Observers have said Saturday's vote proceeded calmly, with few instances of cheating.
President Jonathan has promised to improve the country's economy, health and education. He assumed the presidency last year following the death of his predecessor, Umaru Yar'Adua.
Stumble It!
