Nigeria's election generally peaceful - African Union observers

25 February 2019 - 12:12 By Reuters
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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials collate results from various polling units at the INEC Yola North Local Government Area Office in Adamawa State, as the country awaits the results of the Presidential election, in Yola, Nigeria February 24, 2019.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials collate results from various polling units at the INEC Yola North Local Government Area Office in Adamawa State, as the country awaits the results of the Presidential election, in Yola, Nigeria February 24, 2019.
Image: REUTERS/Nyancho NwaNri

Nigeria's elections took place in a generally peaceful environment, the head of the African Union observer mission said on Monday, in his first public comments about the delayed presidential poll on Saturday.

"The 2019 elections took place in a generally peaceful environment," said AU observer mission head Hailemariam Desalegn, who is the former prime minister of Ethiopia.

As many as 39 people have been killed in election violence, civil society groups said on Sunday.

Analysts say the poll pitting President Muhammadu Buhari against businessman Atiku Abubakar will be Nigeria's tightest since the end of military rule in 1999. 

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