AWKA, Nigeria (AFP) -- The sitting governor in Nigeria's Anambra state won re-election yesterday in a poll seen as a major test for Africa's largest democracy a year ahead of presidential elections.

Despite flaws arising from chaotic voter registration and long delays in opening the polls, observers declared Saturday's election to be "essentially" fair and an improvement on previous polls in the politically volatile south-eastern state.

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Peter Obi of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance the victor despite the glitches and fear the vote would be rigged in favour of President Umaru Yar'Adua's party.

Chief returning officer Josiah Uwazuruonye said Obi had met all legal requirements and scored the highest number of votes to be declared the winner.

Observers reported incidents of vote buying, and police confirmed that thugs had tried to snatch a ballot box from one polling station.

  2 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  0 comments

  4 comments