Party cards ripped apart live on air, rows
over school certificates, campaign posters
plastered hundreds of miles away from home --
Nigeria's presidential election race has definitely
had its share of talking points.
Now, as people in Africa's most populous country
prepare to head to the polls Saturday, in what is
set to be a tightly contested race, CNN takes a
look at some of the most talked-about -- and
somewhat bizarre -- moments of the campaign.
Nigerians Campaign ... In Ghana
As if the massive campaign rallies and the
expensive advertising strategies within Nigeria
are not enough, the nation's two main
presidential candidates -- incumbent president
Goodluck Jonathan and opposition leader
Muhammadu Buhari -- decide to also take their
fight for voters abroad.
Hoping to capitalize on the large numbers of
Nigerians living in Ghana, both Jonathan's
People's Democratic Party and Buhari's All
Progressives Congress plaster many major streets
in Ghana's capital, Accra, with posters of the
parties' leaders. The move, however, does not go down too well
with officials in Ghana as local authorities
promptly order the removal of all the election
campaign posters
in late January.
Caught On Tape?
An audio tape published by citizen journalism site
Sahara Reporters on February 6 alleges that
several prominent Nigerian politicians had
conspired with the military to rig the 2014
elections in Ekiti State.
President Jonathan rules out investigating the
allegations, saying the audio tape is "fabricated,"
according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.
"It's all fabrications," he is quoted saying. "Why
should I investigate things that are not real?"
People in Abuja hold signs to protest the
postponement of the elections.
We Need More Time
On February 7, the country's election commission
announces the postponement of the elections , due
to be held on February 14, for six weeks. The
commission says the postponement is due to
security concerns, after agencies say the military
needs more time to secure areas controlled by
extremist group Boko Haram.
The controversial decision is unpopular among
many Nigerians and leads to widespread protests.
Ex-Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Torn to Pieces
In mid-February, former president Olusegun
Obasanjo, an elder statesman and a key supporter
of Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections,
publicly rips up his membership card of the
People's Democratic Party. This marks a turning
point in the relationship between Obasanjo and
the Nigerian president, whom he'd previously
mentored.
The event on February 17 causes a mini social
media storm, with some pointing to reports that
Obansajo ripped apart an old and invalid
membership card.
King Troubles
Morocco's official news agency Map reports on
March 10 that the country's ambassador has
been recalled from Nigeria
because King Mohammed VI had been used in an
election campaign in Nigeria to win over Muslim
voters. Nigeria's foreign ministry denies that
there is a spat, saying President Jonathan had
spoken to the king.
This in turn is denied by Morocco whose official
news agency states: "The king has actually
declined the request of the Nigerian government
because it is part of the internal electioneering.
The kingdom of Morocco expresses its
astonishment and denunciation to these unethical
practices that are contrary to the spirit of
responsibility that must prevail in relations
between states."
Appointment Causes Furore
On March 18, President Jonathan swears in
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro , one of the politicians
implicated in the "Ekitigate" allegation, to his
cabinet. The appointment prompts a mass
walkout by APC lawmakers, according to reports
in Nigerian newspapers. Senate Spokesperson
Enyinnaya Abaribe tells reporters that according
to Nigeria's laws and constitution "anything that
is a mere allegation and not a court decision is
nothing but a mere allegation."
Show Us Your School Certificate
On March 25, after weeks of speculation and an
ongoing legal battle over allegations that General
Buhari failed to complete his secondary school
education , a Nigerian court clears the way for the
APC leader to run in the presidential race after
adjourning the case until April 22.
Previously, chief Femi Fani-Kayode, director of
media and publicity of PDP had issued a
statement saying: "As long as he cannot produce
that secondary school certificate, we believe that
he is not qualified to run for the presidency of
Nigeria. This is a matter of law and not
sentiment."
The allegations had not been left unanswered by
Buhari himself: "My examination number was
8200002, and I undertook the examination
together with some prominent Nigerians including,
late Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, and former President
of Court of Appeal, Umar Abdullahi," according to
Premium Times .

sinizia:

In a saner climes, Buhari would have been jailed for perjury. But come tomorrow, this wrong will be corected. All well-meaning Nigerians will march on Buhari and his crew of evil incarnates, APC, and send him back to Daura to tend to his cows!!

IbnSultaan:
Sai. BUHARI





My main man, for once, i disagree with you on this one!








Sai BUHARI















Sai BUHARI