VOA标准英语2010年-Nigerians Vote in Tense Election

Security forces are on high alert in Nigeria's southeastern state, Anambra, before Saturday's governorship election.  Previous elections in Nigeria have been marred¹ by violence and fraud.

The statewide election has taken on national importance, as the weekend vote is widely seen as a democracy test for Africa's most-populous nation, ahead of general elections next year.

Elections in Nigeria since independence have always been disputed, prompting the Christian² community in Anambra to pray for divine intervention³.  Oje Oze is the Methodist bishop⁴ of Onitsa in Anambra state.

"As Anambra state is preparing for a governorship election on the sixth of February, it is the mind of Christians⁵ that we come and pray together that this election will be free and fair and that we need God's intervention to select a candidate that is the man of the people," said Oje Oze.

Nigeria's last elections, in 2007, were generally flawed and condemned⁶ by local and foreign observers as falling short of international standards.  Oze says Nigeria has another opportunity to show the world it is capable of organizing credible⁷ elections.

"Anambra state election is a test case for INEC [Independent National Electoral Commission] in Nigeria. If they get it right it will prove they will be able to do something better next year," he added.

In a country where state governors control a part of the huge riches from oil, the political stakes are high.  The air is already thick with claims of favoritism, corruption⁹ and electoral fraud as the state Electoral Commissioner¹⁰ Josiah Uwazuruonye tells VOA.

"Let them stop these inflammatory statements they are making," said Uwazuruonye.  "Let them stop falsehoods, accusing people who are innocent of one thing or another.  Most of them [candidates] are making allegations that the chairman is my cousin, which is not true. Some of them are saying also that one of the gubernatorial candidates is my in-law. These are the things, they do to heat up the system."

The threat of violence posed by thugs sponsored by politicians desperate to get hold of power looms¹¹ large.  Concerns have also been raised about possible poll fraud that could trigger violent protests.  A leading member of the Christian community in the state, Joseph Ajujugwa, admits poll irregularities and the tensions they create are a major concern.

"The church has prayed that God should arise and smite¹² anybody and he is going to do it," said Ajujugwa.  "People should stay away from the people's vote, from stealing the people's mandate¹³ and we believe that it is going to be so.  And, we have warned them. God will not spare anyone that engages in such."

The election comes at a time of political uncertainty¹⁴ in Nigeria. Violent crime has surged in Anambra, in the past few years. Criminal gangs have carried out kidnappings ransom¹⁵, armed robberies and vehicle hijackings, which have left residents living in a state of insecurity.

The police have vowed¹⁶ to ensure the poll goes off in peace.  Some 27,000 officers have been deployed¹⁷.  The police spokesman in the state, Chukwuemeka Ebuka, tells VOA security measures have been put in place to prevent election fraud and violence.

"Any identified politician or, indeed, his crony or agent who is found to be bringing illegal arms into the state will face the full wrath¹⁸ of the law," he said.  "We know that this is a litmus test to the 2011 general elections and we are committed to getting it right this time around."

The ruling People's Democratic Party has dominated Nigeria's political scene, but faces stiff competition on Saturday from at least three opposition¹⁹ candidates, including the incumbent²⁰ state Governor Peter Obi, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance.

Nigeria, scarred by decades of corrupt⁸ dictatorship and military rule, returned to civilian²¹ government in 1999.
 

1 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

4 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

8 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

11 looms   

n.织布机( loom的名词复数 )v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的第三人称单数 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• All were busily engaged,men at their ploughs,women at their looms. 大家都很忙，男的耕田，女的织布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The factory has twenty-five looms. 那家工厂有25台织布机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 smite   

v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿

参考例句：

• The wise know how to teach,the fool how to smite.智者知道如何教导，愚者知道怎样破坏。
• God will smite our enemies.上帝将击溃我们的敌人。

13 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

14 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

15 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

16 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。

17 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

18 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

19 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。

20 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

21 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。