Against a background of election chaos new media gives Nigerian people a voice.

27 out of 34 counted districts in last weekend’s elections returned both Governors and state assembly members from the governing People’s Democratic Party (PDP), according to Reuters.

Before the election, the question "can blogging do for Nigeria what blogging did for the American elections?" echoed through cyberspace.

It appears they can: bloggers report up to 40 dead in Rivers State; attacks on Police Stations; poll officials arriving late; incomplete voting lists; and ballot papers being completed by voting officials not voters.

A Nigerian newspaper also spoke of violence against INEC officials by PDP candidates.

From the chaos of the election is emerging an online voice calling for change. Green Light Nigeria has added to this by taking recording equipment out into the Niger Delta and returning video and voice blogs by locals, as well as inviting blogs from across the world.

It remains to be seen what impact this will have on Saturday’s historic Presidential elections (the first time the head of state will be transferred from one civilian to another).

Calls from opposition parties (who have formed a temporary coalition) have already been made to postpone Presidential elections and re-run last weekend’s elections.

Africa’s most populous country has experienced an economic upturn (due to natural gas exploitation and rising oil prices) and careful negotiation has written off the majority of its debt burden, but it is listed 142 out of 163 countries for corruption by Transparency International: these elections have a lot riding on them.

Which is why blogs that give people a voice, and projects which teach computer skills are a crucial part of Nigeria’s future.