Governor election counting halted in southern Nigeria oil state

By Tife Owolabi

YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) - Counting in the vote to elect the governor of the oil-rich southern Nigerian state of Rivers was suspended on Sunday, the electoral commission said, following violence at polling stations and collation centers.

Voters went the polls on Saturday to choose governors in 29 of Nigeria's 36 states, two weeks after a presidential vote in which Muhammadu Buhari won a second term at the helm of Africa's top oil producer and biggest economy.

The governors are among the most influential politicians in Nigeria and many control budgets larger than those of small nations. Rivers is typically keenly contested because it is in the Niger Delta region that produces most of Nigeria's crude oil, which accounts for two-thirds of government revenue.

Voting took place across Rivers on Saturday but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in a statement that there had been “widespread disruption” in polling units and collation centers. There were no reports of disruption to oil production.

“The commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in the state until further notice,” INEC said in a statement. It said it was concerned about the credibility of the process.

The state is a stronghold of the main opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP governor, Nyesom Wike, was seeking re-election and Buhari's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was banned by a court ruling from fielding a candidate.

Previous governorship elections in Rivers and other parts of Nigeria have been marred by violence, including shootings and the snatching of ballot boxes by armed gangs.

Civil society groups on Saturday said turnout in the governor elections was low across Nigeria, in part due to a large military presence intimidating voters and apathy after the presidential election was delayed by a week.