The Nigerian opposition is exploring options to overturn the results of the widely criticized general election that took place Saturday. From Abuja, Gilbert da Costa reports that opposition leaders met in the city Wednesday and resolved to apply pressure to force the government out.
Buba Galadima, a spokesman for Muhammadu Buhari, the main opposition candidate in Saturday's presidential vote, told VOA that the opposition is not ruling out any option, including mass protests.
"Nothing under the sun is ruled out in order to get rid of Obasanjo and his henchmen," he said. "Definitely, we are working on Nigerians, we are mobilizing. This meeting is part of the mobilization strategy for bringing about whatever action we decide to take."
The opposition could not agree on a single candidate prior to the election, which some analysts say may have affected their chances at the poll.
Galadima says the events of the past few days have forced the opposition to do something they would not do before the election, join together.
"Necessity is the mother of invention and our circumstance brought us together. I think we will swim together," he said.
Independent observers have criticized the elections as deeply flawed. The ruling party's candidate, Umaru Yar'Adua, swept to a landslide victory and is expected to succeed President Obasanjo next month.
