Nigerians await election results

(Vatican Radio) Nigerians are waiting in hope and fear for results of the tightest and most bitterly contested presidential election in the nation's turbulent history. Collation of results starts at noon (1100 GMT) and winner could be named later Monday or Tuesday, electoral officials say.

Listen to Christopher Wells' report: 

In a preliminary declaration, the regional group ECOWAS – the Economic Community of West African States – urged acceptance of the results. “Despite the pockets of incidents and logistical challenges, the ECOWAS Observation Mission is persuaded that the general elections of March 28, 2015 meets the criteria of being free and transparent,” said Remi Ajibewa, the ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs.

In relative peace, millions voted on Saturday and tens of thousands Sunday despite technical glitches, deadly attacks on northeastern polling stations by Islamic extremists and political thuggery in the south.

Boko Haram extremists killed at least 41 people, including a legislator, and scared hundreds of people from polling stations in three states in the northeast on Saturday. On Monday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria's oil capital, police fired tear gas at thousands of women supporters of the opposition coalition demanding the cancellation of the election in Rivers State.

The opposition coalition is demanding new elections in the oil-rich southern states of Rivers and Akwa Ibom, alleging irregularities including missing and false results sheets and electoral officials being replaced by government officials loyal to President Goodluck Jonathan. The Independent National Electoral Commission says it is investigating numerous complaints.

The big fear is that violence may erupt once results are announced in the high-stakes contest to govern Africa's most populous and richest nation. The election has come down to a race analysts say is too close to call between Jonathan and former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari.