Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Obasanjo Wins Nigeria's Presidential Election
Nigerian incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo was reelected in the presidential race in the west African country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Tuesday in Abuja.
Nigerian incumbent President Olusegun Obasanjo was reelected in the presidential race in the west African country, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Tuesday in Abuja.
Obasanjo, who cast his vote in the presidential polls at his hometown in Ogun state, southwestern Nigeria, beat other candidates and gained his second victory in the presidential election after that of 1999, said the INEC.
Over 60 million Nigerian voters cast their ballots across Africa's most populous country on Saturday to elect their president and state governors.
Both international and local observers as well as police forcesand soldiers were present at the polling scene to safeguard the peaceful and smooth elections.
Some 20 political parties had candidates standing in the presidential race, with Obasanjo of the ruling People's DemocraticParty and his opponent Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People's Party as the two main contenders.
The INEC has said the election was free and fair in most statesof Nigeria.