|
 LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - Gunshots in the night, concerns about fraud and a last-minute scramble to get ballots in place roiled Nigeria on Friday, the eve of presidential elections meant to cement civilian rule in Africa's most populous nation.
At least 49 people have been killed since last weekend's chaotic state elections and many more have been reported dead in earlier political violence. President Olusegun Obasanjo pleaded with his citizens to vote peacefully in a national address Friday.
Hours later, gunfire rang out in the capital of Bayelsa, an oil-rich southern state where the governing party's vice presidential candidate, Goodluck Jonathan, is governor. A top militant said fighters hoped to scuttle Saturday's presidential vote, when Jonathan was scheduled to be in his home state to cast his ballot.
|