President Olusegun Obasanjo's ruling party today held a healthy lead in Nigeria's parliamentary elections, with more than a half of the seats declared.
According to results released at the elction headquarters inAbuja, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was well ahead of itsrivals after Saturday's poll with more than 50 per cent support.
If the trend continues, Mr Obasanjo will be well placed to go intothe April 19th presidential elections, when he will seek re-electionagainst a field of 19 competitors.
In elections for the 360-seat lower house, the House ofRepresentatives, the PDP was leading with 51.93 per cent of the voteand 110 of the 201 constituencies so far declared.
The opposition All Nigeria's People's Party (ANPP) was trailingwith 27.17 per cent and 60 seats and the Alliance for Democracy (AD)on 24 seats and 12.04 per cent.
In the 109-seat upper house, the Senate, the PDP was alsoleading,taking 32 of the 54 seats so far declared and 50.58 per cent ofthe vote.
Obasanjo is a Christian Yoruba from the mainly-Christian and Yoruba southwest, while Buhari is a Hausa-speaking Muslim from the many Hausa Muslim north.
AFP