Nigeria's ruling party at risk of key losses

Nigeria: Nigeria counted votes Sunday after millions turned out for parliamentary polls despite violence and delays, with early indications showing a loosening of the ruling party's grip on the legislature.

Deadly bomb blasts cast a shadow over a bid by Africa's most populous nation to hold a credible vote after a series of violent and deeply flawed elections, but officials and activists said the polls were a marked improvement.

The twice-postponed parliamentary polls were the first of three crucial elections this month, with presidential elections this coming Saturday and governorship and state assembly ballots on April 26. "On balance, most people will agree that yesterday's election was better than the past polls since 1999," said Chidi Odinkalu of the Open Society Justice Initiative, referring to the year when Nigeria returned to civilian rule. More than 73 million people registered to vote.

Local media reports said early unofficial results showed key losses for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.

The Speaker of the House of representatives, Dimeji Bankole, as well as the daughter of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, a senator, looked set to lose their seats, several newspapers reported.

Lagos, Monday, AFP