2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerian Court Offers VP a Political Lifeline

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
16 April 2007

The Supreme¹ Court in Nigeria ruled Monday that the electoral commission unlawfully disqualified Vice² President Atiku Abubakar from running for president, handing Abubakar the legal victory just days before the vote. For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports from Abuja.

 

Atiku Abubakar, 3 Apr 2007

The ruling by Nigeria's top court opened the way for a late presidential bid by Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The vice president's spokesman, Garba Shehu, told VOA that the judgment³ could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria's young democracy.

 

"We congratulate every citizen because this is important for democracy in the land, not just for Atiku," he said. "The important thing about this thing is that it expands the reach of access to every citizen, because the constitution gives every citizen the right to vote and be voted for."

Abubakar fell out with President Olusegun Obasanjo last year after helping⁴ quash a drive by the president's supporters to amend⁵ the constitution and allow a third elected term for Mr. Obasanjo.

Abubakar left Obasanjo's powerful party to run as an opposition⁶ candidate in a race in which Umaru Yar'Adua, a member of Obasanjo's party, is seen as the front-runner. The electoral commission had barred Abubakar from the presidential ballot⁷ based findings by an executive panel established by Obasanjo that found Abubakar stole government funds. Abubakar denies the fraud allegations.

The ruling affected⁸ not only Abubakar's candidacy in next Saturday's presidential poll, but at least six states where governorship candidates were disqualified in the state election.

 

In elections over the weekend for state governors and legislators, Mr. Obasanjo's party, the People's Democratic Party, appeared to take a commanding lead today, winning 21 of 36 governorships, according to preliminary results, with six states going to various opposition parties and results from another seven left to be reported. Abubakar's Action Congress won the governorship in Lagos state.

Africa's most populous⁹ nation and top oil producer returned to democracy in 1999 after decades of army rule and these elections should lead to the first handover from one elected president to another since independence in 1960.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。