Country set for "peaceful" handover, events parallel Kentucky's.

Nigeria, Africa's largest Democracy, is getting ready for a "peaceful" presidential election that will be the first time one democratically elected government will hand power to another. Since the country gained independence from Britain in 1960, the country has been ruled by one succession of KLEPTOMANIAC military Hunta after another. At first, skeptics doubted the election would EVER take place. The President, General Olusegu Obasanjo, a former military Hunta himself, won election 8 years ago. Constitutionally barred from seeking a third term and challenged by his Vice-President, Abubakar Atiku, who announced he would be seeking the office himself, the President reacted by pushing to have the constitution changed in his favor. Deterred in his efforts, and still quarreling with his Veep who by now has switched parties, the President, in an event paralleling Kentucky's, took away his Veep privileges -- his official airplane, cars and security detail! Both the President and the Veep were accused by the Senate of corruption, the Code of Conduct Commission (a corruption fighting arm of the government) charged the Veep with corruption and the President sought to sack the Veep for switching parties. Disqualified from running for office by the Federal Election Commission because of his appearance on a list of 135 corrupt politicians, Nigeria's Appeals Court upheld the FEC's actions. Just days ago, however, the Nigerian Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion, nullified that ruling freeing the Veep to appear on the ballot this Saturday. Whether or not Atiku's name appears on the ballot this late remains to be seen, though the Electoral Commission is promising as much. You can read more how democracy disappoints Nigerians. Last Saturday's voting for Governors and Legislators appear to have gone well or rigged, depending on who you ask. In some particular areas of the country, it is reported that "people were seen stuffing ballot boxes."

Yet another Kentucky parallel!!

Update: Read the "thugging" of Democracy.

Update #2: Voting takes place amid filed bombing. Read it here, as country waits.

Update #3: Chaos and fraud.