{{ABUJA, Nigeria, Mar 30}} \u2013 {Nigeria counted ballots in a closely fought general election Sunday after failures in controversial new technology pushed voting into a second day, with President Goodluck Jonathan facing a stiff challenge from ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.}<\/p>\n
Despite violence linked to Boko Haram militants and sporadic unrest elsewhere, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and others praised the conduct of the vote and called for calm to avoid a repeat of deadly rioting that followed 2011 elections.<\/p>\n
In a sign of the continuing threat posed by the Islamists however, military fighter jets and ground troops pounded Boko Haram fighters in the northeastern state of Bauchi after a series of attacks on polling stations at the weekend.<\/p>\n
The presidential election in Africa\u2019s most populous nation and largest oil producer is the closest in the country\u2019s history, with the first credible challenge from an opposition party.<\/p>\n
Jonathan\u2019s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999 but is being pushed to the wire by main opposition candidate Buhari. READ: Nigerian voters try again after technical glitches.<\/p>\n
First results could be given from Monday, the head of the country\u2019s electoral commission, Attahiru Jega, said Sunday night.<\/p>\n
The prospect of a democratic transfer of power \u2013 plus economic woes caused by the slump in global oil prices, concerns about corruption and fears about insecurity \u2013 served to energise the vote.<\/p>\n
One government spokesman claimed there was a \u201crecord turnout\u201d and voting was largely peaceful despite pockets of unrest mainly in southern states such as the key battleground of Rivers.<\/p>\n
The technical difficulties of the voting process, however, set the tone for a potential dispute as the PDP has opposed the use of handheld electronic devices to authenticate voters, saying they were not sufficiently tested.<\/p>\n
Buhari\u2019s All Progressives Congress (APC) supports the new system as a means of curbing the voter fraud that has marred previous elections.<\/p>\n
{{Source: Capital FM}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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