Nigerian Groups Demand Dictator Relinquish Power
ABUJA, Nigeria — A rapidly emerging coalition of rights groups and politicians demanded Thursday that the military dictatorship release the results of presidential elections and give up its stranglehold on power.
With the outcome of Saturday’s vote suppressed by dubious legal challenges brought by supporters of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s regime, the future of Africa’s most populous nation hung in the balance.
His foes have long accused Babangida of planning to derail the first civilian presidential elections in a decade in order to retain power.
The military-appointed electoral commission said Wednesday it would abide by the Abuja High Court’s order to temporarily withhold the election results.
Babangida supporters had petitioned the court to step in, contending that the elections were rigged.
But on Thursday, other Nigerian courts called on the commission to release the results, adding to the electoral confusion.
Nigeria’s military regimes, all notoriously corrupt, have repeatedly used allegations of political abuse as an excuse to seize power. Only two civilian governments have led Nigeria since independence from Britain 33 years ago.
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