Nigeria's gubernatorial election: many denounce tensions and violence
A woman participates in the vote in Nigeria's gubernatorial election on March 18, 2023 in Lagos. © REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja
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In Nigeria, the day after the election of governors and representatives of local assemblies, voting continues in many polling stations that could not open on Saturday, March 18, because of logistical problems or violence that marked this election. Reactions, this Sunday, on the way these elections took place.
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With our correspondent in Lagos, Liza Fabbian
On social networks, many Nigerians denounce exacerbated inter-communal tensions in Lagos, stronghold of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, where the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, came out ahead in the presidential election.
The latter published a tweet on Saturday night to express his "sadness" and send his "condolences to the families of those who lost their lives" during these local elections.
My sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. May God Almighty grant them eternal rest, and grant their families the fortitude to bear their sad irreplaceable loss.
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) March 18, 2023
According to the Nigerian press, about twenty people were killed throughout the country, whether during the attack on polling stations or exchanges of fire between police and assailants.
A representative of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) died from his injuries in Ebonyi State. Sixteen election workers were also injured in Anambra State.
In Lagos, the International Press Centre (ICP) "strongly condemned unacceptable attacks" against journalists across the country. The organization had called on "the police and political parties to take measures to protect them" after the February 25 general elections. These new incidents are therefore "particularly worrying" according to her.
Finally, the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja, which has deployed 1,500 observers to Nigeria, nevertheless welcomed an improvement in logistics, but regretted "vote buying and intimidation" in several Nigerian states.
► Read also Nigeria: the stakes of the election of governors, a decisive election
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