Lagos, Nigeria - The opposition umbrella group Nigerians United for Democracy (NUD) has sharply criticised Ghana's President Kufuor for his postion on Nigeria's elections.

In a statement issued in the capital city of Abuja Sunday, NUD disagreed with the position of AU Chairman, Kufuor, that the Nigerian polls were "peaceful", saying by hailing as "peaceful" an election in which scores of people died, the AU chairman had succeeded "in making a laughing stock of Africa and its leaders".

The statemet also criticised South African President Thabo Mbeki for sending a congratulatory message to the president-elect of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar`Adua.

"Africa has remained poor because of the antics of leaders like Mbeki and Kufuor, who have continued to condone the misdeeds of their peers who subject their citizen to sub-human existence through anti-people policies, greed, selfishness and outright incompetence," the group said.

It warned other leaders not to toe the line of Mbeki and Kufuor, adding: "The Nigerian people have opened a black book into which your names will be written, so that coming generations will never forget your ignominious role in the country`s hour of darkness."