Britain slams 'outright rigged' election in Nigeria
POSTED: 10:20 a.m. EDT, April 27, 2007

Story Highlights• Britain says result "not credible," but urges opposition to seek redress lawfully
• Ruling party presidential candidate Umaru Yar'Adua won landslide victory
• President Olusegun Obasanjo is due to hand over to Yar'Adua on May 29
• Opposition plans series of mass protests on May 1

LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) -- Former colonial power Britain denounced "outright rigging" in Nigeria's elections, but urged the opposition to stick to the constitution in seeking redress.

The electoral commission gave the ruling party candidate, Umaru Yar'Adua, a landslide victory in Saturday's presidential poll, but the opposition called for it to be cancelled and held again after international observers said the result was not credible.

"It was not just a question of disorganization, but there was outright rigging and the results were frankly not credible," High Commissioner Richard Gozney said at a reception in Lagos on Thursday night.

"It is up to Nigerians to decide what should happen next. But we do make a plea for people to stick strictly to constitutional means," he added.

President Olusegun Obasanjo is due to hand over to Yar'Adua on May 29, in what would be the first transfer of power from one civilian president to another since Nigeria gained independence from Britain in 1960.

Obasanjo has urged the opposition to seek redress through election tribunals.

Some opposition groups have called for the National Assembly to install an interim government headed by Senate President Ken Nnamani to run fresh elections, but Nnamani has rejected the idea as unconstitutional.

The opposition is also planning a series of mass protests starting on Tuesday, when trade unions stage their annual May Day parade.

"If constitutionality prevails in Nigeria over the next few weeks that in itself will be a very big step forward," Gozney said, adding that Britain would not accept or endorse any unconstitutional outcome.