Nigerian President Considering State of Emergency if Elections Not Complete

VOA

27 April 2011

Nigerian President Considering State of Emergency if Elections Not Complete: "

Scott Stearns
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan says he will be forced to impose a state of emergency in two northern states, if they are not able to complete elections this week. 

President Jonathan says declaring a state of emergency in Kaduna and Bauchi is an option of last resort, if there is not sufficient security to hold statewide elections there.

Voters in most states chose their governors Tuesday.  But polls in Kaduna and Bauchi were delayed until Thursday because of violence that followed the president's election, last week.

Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari says that vote was rigged.  Some of his supporters in the north attacked churches, homes and police stations, sparking reprisal attacks by Christians.  The human rights group the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria says at least 500 people were killed in that violence.

With President Jonathan to be sworn-in on May 29, he says he will be forced to declare a state of emergency in Kaduna and Bauchi, if they have not voted by Friday.

"If by 29th of April we are unable to conduct an election in any state then, by law, we can not conduct elections again until after inauguration because you need 30 days. In that case we have no choice than to declare state of emergency, even if there is peace," Jonathan said.