Nigeria:Nigerian politicians are arming and encouraging violent mobs during the run-up to nationwide elections, according to a report published yesterday by human rights campaigners.
Africa's most populous nation goes to the polls later this month to select a new president in the country's third election since breaking with military rule in 1999. Analysts believe the poll will be a key test of its fragile democracy. If the election passes without a hitch, it could be the first time in Nigeria's 47-year independent history that power is transferred peacefully from civilian to civilian.
But so far this year's campaign has been marked by violence, confusion over voter registration and apparently arbitrary disqualification of candidates, according to the report. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch said recent years of relative stability and economic growth could be undermined if steps were not taken to ensure free and fair elections on April 14th and 21st.
"The Nigerian government should ensure that these elections mark a sharp departure from the violence and corruption that has marred the political system," said Peter Takirambudde, Africa director of Human Rights Watch. "But it seems plain that this April, Nigerian voters will again face the threat of violence, intimidation and fraud."
More than 70 people have been killed in election-related violence since November, according to local press reports. The group accuses Nigerian police of failing to make any real effort to investigate or prosecute politicians involved in mobilising violence.
The group says it was told by a state commissioner of the police that he feared being sacked or "forcibly retired" if he went too far in investigating allegations.
The use of violence for political ends has become routine in Nigeria, the report concludes, and politicians in many states have armed criminal gangs ahead of the elections to harass opponents, as well as to intimidate and disenfranchise the voting public.
"Electoral violence poses a tremendous threat to voters on polling day," Mr Takirambudde said. "But Nigeria's police appear to be standing by as powerful politicians mobilise criminal gangs to undermine the vote."
In a country where aspiring politicians travel to rallies with dancers, musicians and briefcases stuffed with cash - anything to secure a vote - using gangs of thugs as protection is nothing new. As the ballot edges closer, tensions have risen further among Nigeria's 140 million population.
Much of the concern has focused on the candidacy of vice- president Atiku Abubakar. He fell out with president Olusegun Obasanjo over attempts to amend the constitution last year allowing Mr Obasanjo a third term in power. Since then he has been suspended from the governing People's Democratic Party over allegations that he misused $125 million (€93 million) meant for development in the Niger delta, where millions live in poverty next to multimillion-dollar oil installations.
The accusations have so far disqualified him from running, despite emerging as one of the front runners. He said he had no doubt the president was behind a plot to keep him out of the race.