NIGERIA: OBASANJO WINS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

(1 Mar 1999) English/Nat
Former military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo has been declared the winner of Nigeria's landmark presidential elections, designed to restore democracy after 15 years of military rule.
However, Obansanjo's defeated rival, former finance minister Ola Falae, called the election a "farce".
And former U-S President Jimmy Carter was one of a several international observers who raised concern over vote-rigging and other irregularities.
Obasanjo's election marks a final step in Nigeria's transition to democracy.
The president-elect is a retired army general, returning to a job he voluntarily relinquished 20 years ago.
Nigeria has been battered by army rule since soldiers overthrew the civilian president he handed power to in 1979.
Speaking to journalists in a hotel room filled with aides and well-wishers, Obasanjo pledged to use his rule to nurture democracy in Nigeria.
The official count showed that Obasanjo had won 63 per cent of the vote.
His victory was announced as a historic moment.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This is a moment of great significance in the political history of our dear country Nigeria."
SUPERCAPTION: Justice Ephraim Akpata, Independent National Electoral Commission chief
And there was no hint of the row brewing over irregularities.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Olusegun Obasanjo, retired of the PDP, having complied with the requirements of the law and having scored the majority of votes is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected."
SUPERCAPTION: Justice Ephraim Akpata, Independent National Electoral Commission chief
But a cloud was cast over the result by Obasanjo's rival, former Finance Minister Olu Falae.
He insists the results were rigged.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, I'm afraid there has been no election. What has happened is a farce because the will of the people has been subverted by massive and widespread rigging of the vote. I hope that there will be no violence. We don't believe in violence but believe in justice, so I will say to our supporters - who are the majority of Nigerians- await developments and for the instructions from us."
SUPER CAPTION: Olu Falae, defeated presidential candidate
Several international observers had also reported ballot-box stuffing among other voting problems.
U-S monitors from the Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute said they were greatly concerned about serious flaws, including inflated vote returns and ballot-box stuffing.
Carter added, though, that there was no systematic evidence that the abuses had affected the overall outcome of the election.
The democratic transition began in June, when the five-year-dictatorship of Gen. Sani Abacha ended with his sudden death.
Abacha was followed by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who has repeatedly vowed to hand over power to a civilian government.
Abubakar is to turn over power to Obasanjo on May 29.
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