Nigerian opposition calls for peaceful protests

An opposition bloc called for Nigerians to mount peaceful protests to demand cancellation of a "sham" presidential vote in which the governing party was declared the winner.

President Olusegun Obasanjo's party won by heavy margins in April 14 state elections and an April 21 presidential and parliamentary vote, both of which were deemed not credible by local and international observers. The opposition says the elections were rigged.

"We are not against street protests. We will not engage in violent protest. We're calling for peaceful protests," Ben Obi said after a meeting of 20 political parties, including the two main blocs.

He did not say when protests would be held, saying that was still under consideration. But he mentioned May 1 as a day when Nigerians should join with unions to "reject the sham elections of 14th and 21st April and call for its cancellation".

Obi was the running mate of Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was third in the official results. Abubakar is a one-time Obasanjo ally who bolted the ruling party to head up a new opposition group before the election.

If Nigerians heed the call en-masse, even peaceful protests could spin out of control and cause havoc in a multiethnic country of 140 million people, most of them deeply impoverished despite the country's massive oil industry.

The elections were meant to boost civilian rule and stability in Africa's top oil producer, where some 15,000 people have died in political violence since 1999 as factions fought for power in a political space liberated by the end of strict military rule that year.

Questions about the legitimacy of the elections undermined the voting for Nigeria's first transfer of power from one elected civilian to another.

All other civilian transfers of power between elected officials have been undermined by annulments or military coups. Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.