Nigeria unions plan strikes to protest election fraud News
Nigeria unions plan strikes to protest election fraud

[JURIST] Nigerian union leaders Thursday called for a two-day national strike to protest the May 29 inauguration of president-elect Umaru Yar'Adua [BBC profile], who they say was elected fraudulently. The strike, which will involve both blue-collar and white-collar unions, is expected to begin with rallies on May 28 to protest Nigeria's April 21 elections [JURIST news archive], which were the target of sharp criticism [JURIST report] from the European Union and NGO observers. Allegations of fraud include multiple voting, stuffing and missing ballot boxes, as well as violence at the polls. The elections in Nigeria [JURIST news archive] were intended to facilitate the first civilian government transition in Africa's most populous country.

On Monday, Nigeria's Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) [official website] must provide "certified true copies" of ballots [JURIST report] from the elections to embattled candidate and current Vice President Atiku Abubakar [official website; JURIST news archive]. AP has more.