Two Nigerian states hit hard by deadly rioting after presidential elections head back to the polls yesterday to vote for state governors with tension still running deep and scores displaced.
An outbreak of violence, which a local rights group says killed at least 500 people after April 16 presidential polls, forced authorities to delay governorship elections in the states of Kaduna and Bauchi by two days.
Kaduna and neighboring Bauchi became the epicenter of unrest, ignited by the victory of Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential elections.
The violence spiraled and spilled across a dozen other states, displacing an estimated 74,000 people. Many have taken up residence in increasingly squalid displaced camps.
Some have been relocated to completely different areas of the state, making voting impossible.
“We feel that we are not Nigerians, watching other people voting tomorrow,” said Musa Yusuf, registered in the devastated town of Zonkwa, 180km from the camp. “It is pathetic that we have been disenfranchised by this crisis.”
Most other states held governorship elections on Tuesday. Turnout was low in a number of areas, with some afraid to venture out to cast ballots in the aftermath of the violence.
Jonathan, a Christian from the south, defeated his main rival, former Nigerian military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim, in the April 16 vote.
Though observers described the conduct of the election as a major step forward for Nigeria, Jonathan’s victory ignited rioting across the north amid accusations of rigging.
The violence led to clashes between Christians and Muslims while churches and mosques were torched. Though calm has been restored by a heavy military deployment, people are still streaming into displaced camps, relief officials said.
“I and my family don’t feel safe,” said Jubril Mahmoud, a father of three living at a camp.
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