NIGERIA: Nigeria's lawyers strike over election vote-rigging

Nigeria's lawyers go on strike to protest against widespread vote-rigging in last month's elections. Nigeria's lawyers boycotted court sittings across the country on Friday (May 18) in protest against widespread vote-rigging in last month's elections. Courtrooms were locked, offices remained empty and prisoners due to appear were returned to jail. On Thursday (May 17) the country's unions called for a two day strike on May 28-29 to coincide with the inauguration of president-elect Umaru Yar'Adua on May 29. The polls were supposed to deliver the first democratic transition from one civilian president to another in Africa's most populous country, but international observers said widespread rigging and violence meant the elections were not credible. Lawyer Kola Oyeleye said: "We are showing our own concern and disapproval of the whole processes that culminated in the in-coming administration." But some lawyers were against the strike, saying the issue should be dealt with by the electoral tribunal set up to investigate the poll. "The law provides that the aggrieved parties should go the electoral tribunal, and the aggrieved parties are the politicians," said lawyer Chris Abugo outside the High Court in Lagos. Official election results gave the ruling People's Democratic Party a landslide victory although dozens of candidates for legislators' and state governors' posts are contesting the results in court. The Nigeria labour Congress call a mass protest on May 1 and thousands of demonstrators gathered in the main cities, but the rallies were tightly controlled by security forces and scores of activists were arrested and tear gassed. Since then, popular protests have been muted.

ITN Source | May 19, 2007

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