Objections lodged in Nigeria ballot

Nigeria’s two biggest opposition parties have issued formal complaints over the recent presidential election.

The party of former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari and the party of former anti-corruption czar Nuhu Ribadu announced the complaints today as vote-counting appeared to be drawing to a close. The substance of the complaints was not immediately known.

Results were still pending from two states in Saturday’s election but tallies released live on national television indicated President Goodluck Jonathan had a commanding lead with few votes left to be announced.

Rioting has erupted across Nigeria’s Muslim north over the results, as many there would prefer a Muslim president over Jonathan, who is a Christian southerner.