Nigeria tense with election too close to call

Tear gas is used in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, as soldiers face APC supporters alleging voting irregularities. Photo / AP

Either a former dictator or a "weak" leader could emerge as President of Africa's most populous nation this morning. After an election marred by claims of ballot tampering, there are fears the result could trigger violence across Nigeria.

The fight between President Goodluck Jonathan, a southern Christian, and Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim former general, divided Nigeria along ethnic, regional and religious lines. Last night, the race remained too close to call.

Buhari recorded thumping majorities in key northern states. The 72-year-old won 1.1 million votes in the flashpoint city of Kaduna compared with the President's 484,000.

In Jonathan's native Rivers state, the volatile and hotly contested home of Africa's biggest oil and gas industry, the incumbent won 95 per cent of the vote. Buhari's opposition All Progressives Congress denounced the vote there as "a sham and a charade".

Allegations of electoral misconduct emerged in at least four different states as the votes were being counted. Rivers state's APC Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, accused electoral officers of disappearing with all the result sheets.

In Lagos, with the APC looking to establish a solid lead, supporters of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) were also questioning the conduct of officials.

The US and Britain said there were worrying signs of political interference.

"So far, we have seen no evidence of systemic manipulation of the process," said US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in a joint statement. "But there are disturbing indications that the collation process - where the votes are finally counted - may be subject to deliberate political interference."

Whatever the result, legal challenges are expected and a run-off could be required.

- Independent