[JURIST] Nigeria's Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal ruled Monday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) [official website] must provide "certified true copies" of ballots from Nigeria's contested April 21 presidential elections to embattled candidate and current Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar [official website; JURIST news archive]. The ruling, which stems from petitions filed by several candidates, also required the INEC to provide Abubakar a list of all officials and staff employed for the elections. Lawyers representing INEC did not object to the ruling.

In April, the INEC declared the winner of the country's presidential elections [JURIST report] to be the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Umaru Yar'Adua [BBC profile]. European Union and NGO observers, however, echoed Nigerian opposition leaders in their sharp criticism of the poll [JURIST report]. Allegations of fraud include multiple voting, stuffing and missing ballot boxes, as well as violence at the polls have marred the elections, which are intended to mark the first civilian government transition in Africa's most populous country. The New York Times has more. The Daily Champion has local coverage.