2007年VOA标准英语-Opposition to Nigeria's Vote Mull Options

By Nico Colombant
Abuja
24 April 2007

Opposition¹ leaders, lawmakers and pro-democracy activists³ in Nigeria are mulling options on how to contest results from this month's fraud-filled and ruling-party dominated state and federal elections.  Many of them are not sure if the court system is the proper avenue.  VOA's Nico Colombant reports from Abuja.

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A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Abuja, Nigeria

Members of the upper and lower houses of parliament organized closed-door emergency sessions in the capital, amid debate on how to respond to the recently concluded elections, viewed as fraudulent by international and local observers, and whether they should seek a re-vote.

Some Nigerian politicians alleged⁵ there were hints of discontent in army barracks as well.

A pro-democracy activist², Jibrin Ibrahim, said there was too much disorganization during the voting for courts to be able to handle grievances⁶.

"A lot of polling stations did not have results sheets, which should have been signed by all the party agents," he said.  "In our court system, these results sheets would be required as evidence that those results did not correspond to the votes of the people.  That is why we have come to the conclusion that this is a national, political and constitutional crisis and our constitution provides for the national assembly to intervene in such a context."

A court case to reject the similarly flawed 2003 presidential election was rejected more than two years after it was introduced.

Emma Ezeazu from the Nigerian Alliance for Credible⁷ Elections said civil society groups are meeting to consider an appeal for civil disobedience.

"Civil society groups in this country have clear programs.  One of them includes the program of how the people can defend their mandates," she said.

But many ordinary Nigerians seem disillusioned⁸ by the electoral process and resigned to the victory of the ruling party.

The private daily The Vanguard wrote "even a goat would have won the elections provided it had the backing of the People's Democratic Party."

The campaign headquarters of the president-elect Musa Yar'Adua was one of the few places where cheering broke out.

The declared winner with about 70 percent of the vote, according to officials, called for all Nigerians to accept him as the next president.

"The contest has come and gone so must our differences dissipate in the cause of the greater good of moving our dear nation ahead," he said.  "Especially, I wish to thank my worthy⁹ opponents in the presidential election, you are all respected and respectable Nigerians and leaders in your own rights."

He said none of them had called to congratulate him.  Outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose efforts to change the constitution and seek a third term, were rejected by the outgoing parliament, has warned any attempts to destabilize Nigeria will be suppressed.

One of the many disappointed international observers, Madeleine Albright, says there is plenty of time for challenges to be considered before the new government is scheduled to be installed May 29.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright says election authorities have failed Nigerians, 23 Apr 2007

"We have to see how these processes are carried out," she said.  "We have made many, many, statements about the lack of credibility, the flaws, the fact that the will of the people has not been properly reflected.  But we also think that there is a way here at this time to work through the process, before any new government is to be inaugurated, anyway.  There is a very interesting and delicate five-week period here when everything has to work properly and does provide a pathway to a peaceful resolution."

Leading opposition candidates have vowed¹⁰ the results will not stand, but they have yet to explain what exactly their strategy will be.

1 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。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

6 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

8 disillusioned   

a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的

参考例句：

• I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。
• Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。

9 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

10 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。