Voting hours extended

ABUJA – Votes are being counted in Nigeria’s closelyfought general elections, with voting hours extended in some places following delays in the morning.

The main challenger to President Muhammadu Buhari, 76, is the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, 72.

Whoever wins will have to address power shortages, corruption, security threats, and a sluggish economy.

Buhari cast a ballot in his hometown of Daura. Asked if he would congratulate his rival if he lost, he said: “I will congratulate myself.”

About two hours before polls were due to open yesterday, residents of the town of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state in the country’s north-east reported hearing several blasts and gunfire.

Police said in a statement that there was no threat to public safety.

Borno is the birthplace of the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which had said it planned to disrupt the elections.

In the north-eastern state of Yobe, suspected Islamist militants attacked the town of Geidam, forcing people to flee, the Reuters news agency reported. (BBC)