2007年VOA标准英语-Main Opposition Parties Call Off Nigeria Electi

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
19 April 2007

Two of Nigeria's 18 opposition¹ parties have backed down on their earlier threat to withdraw from Saturday's presidential ballot². For VOA, Gilbert da Costa reports that cracks have emerged within the ranks of the opposition over the boycott³ threat and the nomination⁴ of a single opposition candidate.

 

A Nigerian stands near a poster with the picture of Muhammadu Buhari, a presidential candidate of the All Nigerian People's Party (ANPP), in Kano, 19 Apr 2007

Nigeria's main opposition party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party says it will participate in the ballot, breaking ranks with other opposition parties.

 

The Action Congress, another leading opposition party, which supports the candidacy of Vice⁵ President Atiku Abubakar, is also set to be part of the crucial vote.

 

University of Abuja political science teacher Usman Mohammed says the opposition's best option lies in forging a strong coalition⁶.

 

"To boycott the election is very extreme," he said. "But, they can come up with extreme measures in order to safeguard what has happened."

 

With two of the leading opposition candidates opting⁷ to participate in the vote, the opposition is clearly split. Talks of nominating a single opposition candidate have disappeared, even as some opposition leaders met to salvage⁸ what is left of the coalition.

Other opposition parties insist on an election boycott.

 

"We are of the opinion that rather than the ruling party, in collaboration⁹ with INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission], bringing out the military from the barracks, bringing out the police to aid rigging of elections, we are saying that it will be better for the political parties to stay off from participating," said Kassim Afeagbu, a representative of the National Democratic Party.

"It will score us better than going to participate, when you know the outcome is predetermined," he added.

 

An 18-party coalition announced last Tuesday that it may not contest Saturday's ballot because it feared the vote would be rigged in favor of the ruling party.

 

The government has rejected the accusations¹⁰ and vowed¹¹ to proceed with the weekend election, despite the boycott threat.

 

Under Nigeria's constitution, elections must be held by April 21, a month before the constitutional handover date of May 29.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

3 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 opting   

v.选择，挑选( opt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• What courses are most students opting for? 多数学生选什么课程？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Wells doesn't rule out opting out and then re-signing with Houston. 威尔斯没有排除跳出合同再与火箭重签的可能。 来自互联网

8 salvage   

v.救助，营救，援救；n.救助，营救

参考例句：

• All attempts to salvage the wrecked ship failed.抢救失事船只的一切努力都失败了。
• The salvage was piled upon the pier.抢救出的财产被堆放在码头上。

9 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

10 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

11 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。