Nigeria's ruling party takes first seat in state poll

Results from Nigerian state governorship elections, which were marred by reports of ballot box snatching, began to emerge on Wednesday with the ruling party winning the first seat to be declared. The state governorship races, which began on Tuesday, are the final stage in elections which have seen some of the country's worst political violence in years. Local newspapers said the ruling party was quite likely to retain many states despite rioting which left hundreds dead in the mostly Muslim north last week after President Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian, beat northern rival Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election. There were localised problems on Tuesday but nothing on a similar scale. Police on Wednesday confirmed the shooting of a member of a state assembly in the southern Delta state and said her driver was killed in the incident it described as "ballot box snatching." Soldiers arrested people stealing ballot boxes in several states around the country, including parts of the oil-producing Niger Delta in the south and Kano in the north. Sullivan Chime, from the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), held on to the governorship of the eastern state of Enugu with a large majority in the first results reported by state-run News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The governorship vote is due to end on Thursday in the northern states of Kaduna and Bauchi -- areas which saw some of the worst riots. HIGH STAKES State polls have often been the most volatile in Nigeria as the 36 governors are among the country's most powerful politicians, wielding national influence and controlling budgets often larger than those of small African nations. They are also seen as more likely to be able to influence the lives of ordinary Nigerians than the president, far away in the capital Abuja, meaning voters also see the stakes as high. This month's elections have been an emotional rollercoaster for the 73 million registered voters in Nigeria, which -- until 11 days ago -- had failed to hold a single credible election since the end of military rule in 1999. Euphoria over a presidential vote deemed free and fair by observers turned to despair last week as Buhari rejected the outcome and his supporters took to the streets, burning churches, mosques and homes. Tens of thousands of people are still sheltering in army barracks. Jonathan's People's Democratic Party saw its parliamentary majority narrow in this month's polls and is also expected to lose some states after Tuesday's vote. Buhari's Congress for Progressive Change is expected to perform strongly in the north. Source: Reuters < Prev   Next >