20110107
reuters

WARRI, Nigeria (Reuters) - Nigeria's ruling party candidate is ahead in a rerun governorship election in the oil-producing Delta state, the electoral commission said on Friday, but his opponent expressed doubts about the conduct of the vote.

The election is seen as test before national elections in April and voting passed off without serious unrest on Thursday, although there were isolated acts of sabotage.

Delta is one of three main states in the Niger Delta, the heartland of Africa's biggest oil and gas industry and a restive region seen as a potential flashpoint during the presidential and parliamentary elections.

After more than half the votes were counted, results showed Emmanuel Uduaghan of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) was ahead in a close contest with his nearest rival, Great Ogboru of the Democratic People's Party (DPP).

Ogboru hinted he might not accept the result if Uduaghan won. He said some of his party agents had been unfairly arrested and he had doubts about how the election was conducted.

"This injustice must not be allowed to continue because of major irregularities in some (voting) areas," Ogboru told journalists in the city of Asaba, where the results will be announced.

Thousands of armed police and soldiers were drafted into Delta state for the vote, held after a court last year overturned the victory of Uduaghan in 2007.

A Reuters correspondent said military trucks carrying hundreds of soldiers arrived in Warri on Friday and were patrolling the streets.