Nigerian opposition party rejects the offer to join Govt

LAGOS, July 6: A major Nigerian opposition party that is challenging President Umaru Yar'Adua's electoral victory in court has rejected an offer to join his government because it considers it illegitimate, a party spokesman said today.

Yar'Adua invited the three main opposition parties to join his government in an effort to offset a perceived lack of legitimacy after the April polls that gave him his mandate were condemned as ''not credible'' by European Union observers.

The main opposition All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and the smaller People's Progressive Alliance (PPA) have agreed to join, but after a fierce internal debate the Action Congress (AC) opted out.

''There is no compelling moral, legal or political reason for us to join a government that we have told the whole world stole its mandate,'' said AC spokesman Lai Mohammed.

''If we partake in the government, we will be partaking in stolen goods, which is criminal. Besides, we will turn Nigeria into a one-party state as there will be no more opposition.'' Yar'Adua was declared the landslide winner of polls that marked the first transfer of power from one civilian leader to another in Africa's most populous nation.

But local and foreign observers reported widespread fraud and violence in many parts of the country before and during the polls. EU observers said the elections ''fell far short of basic international standards''.

Yar'Adua's two main challengers, former army ruler Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP and ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the AC's candidate, are contesting the result in court.

The official results gave Yar'Adua 24.6 million votes, Buhari 6.6 million and Abubakar 2.6 million.

Yar'Adua's offer has caused deep divisions within the opposition parties.

Buhari has said he feels betrayed by the ANPP's decision to join the government and would not drop his legal challenge.

Abubakar also said nothing would persuade him to withdraw his case.

The ANPP and the ruling People's Democratic Party said last week they had agreed to work together to review the electoral process, the constitution and a series of privatisations made in the last days of the previous government.

''If the government is sincere about reforming the system, it does not need the AC to join it to carry out the reforms,'' Mohammed said.

Reuters>