[JURIST] Nigeria's Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday upheld the results of last year's disputed presidential elections [JURIST report], saying that opposition groups failed to present sufficient evidence to support their fraud allegations [JURIST report]. European Union and NGO observers questioned the results of last April's poll, and fraud allegations included multiple voting, stuffing and missing ballot boxes. The election tribunal said that opposition leaders former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar [JURIST news archive] and former army general Muhammadu Buhari [campaign website] failed to show that the fraud was extensive enough to affect the outcome of the election. Abubakar and Buhari have indicated that they will appeal Tuesday's decision to the Nigerian Supreme Court.

In April 2007, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) [official website] declared the winner of the country's presidential elections to be the ruling People's Democratic Party candidate Umaru Yar'Adua [BBC profile], prompting petitions from Abubakar and Buhari. As part of the six-month-long challenge, the election tribunal ordered the INEC to turn over certified copies of the ballots [JURIST report] and provide information on all officials and staff employed for the elections. The presidential election was intended to mark the first civilian government transition in Africa's most populous country. AP has more.