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Nigerian opposition groups have called for a May Day of mass action to protest against Saturday's elections, which they condemned as a sham.
The United Action for Democracy, which groups 26 pro-democracy and human rights bodies, said the low turnout in the parliamentary elections showed that Nigerians did not accept the elections.
"On this historic day, we call on the Nigerian people, workers - farmers, traders, professionals, students and youths - to organise and participate in mass actions all over the country to free our nation from dictatorship and chase out the Abacha junta," the UAD said at a press conference.
It also listed a number of demands, including the "immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees," including the presumed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential elections, Chief Moshood Abiola.
The UAD had called for a boycott of the elections, the first in four years, The election, it said, was pointless as all five political parties have adopted General Sanni Abacha, the country's military leader, as their presidential candidate.
Polling booths were virtually deserted on Saturday both in the north of Nigeria, the traditional bastion of support for the military, and the south-west, which is traditionally opposition territory.
Official figures for turnout are not often released in Nigeria, but officials of the government's electoral commission said privately that it could have been the lowest participation in any poll since independence from Britain in 1960.
Military government stunned
Five parties taking part support General AbachaNigeria's military government expressed disappointment at the low voter turnout.
In what the BBC correspondent in Lagos describes as a surprisingly blunt statement, General Jeremiah Useni, the minister for the federal capital territory Abuja said he was disappointed in the low turnout of people.
"I expected to see a large turnout from voters. I do not know really know the reason for this turnout," he told reporters.
Military rulers had hoped the election would be seen as a step towards democracy.
Whether the opposition can claim responsibility for the low turnout remains unclear according to our correspondent. What is clear is that voters were apathetic towards the election throughout the country because they feel their votes will not influence whether General Abacha retains power.
Voters also said they didn't know who the candidates were because the final list of those approved by the authorities to contest elections was released shortly before the vote and there was little time for campaigning.
General Abacha seized power in a coup in 1993 and has since faced international condemnation for human rights abuses and refusing to hand power to an elected civilian government.
Opponents and pro-democracy groups have long dismissed General Abacha's plan to restore democracy as a ruse to keep power he seized in the turmoil created by the annulment by the military of the 1993 presidential elections.
>From the newsroom of the BBC World Service.
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Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 11:53:20 +0000 (GMT) From: UN IRIN - West Africa <irin-wa@wa.dha.unon.org> Subject: Nigeria: Opposition calls for May Day election protest, 98.04.27 Message-Id: <Pine.LNX.3.95.980427115204.1972A-100000@wa.dha.unon.org>
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar
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