Ekiti state governor Ayo Fayose is no stranger to legal challenges by the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Government search efforts have been unsuccessful despite a global social media campaign and pleas from international leaders.
This is the second time Nigeria's election commission has declared the gubernatorial election in the southeast state inconclusive due to irregularities.
Voter apathy and the fear of violence at polling stations reportedly kept many Nigerians at home.
The Peoples Democratic Party warned Thursday that members of the All Progressives Congress plan to rig Saturday's voting.
In the African country, "unfortunately, they are more tolerant of some deaths than we would be in the U.S," an observer said.
"Those defecting from the PDP, based on the outcome of the presidential and national assembly elections, lack principles of integrity and morality. They are indeed stomach politicians.”
The All Progressives Congress accused the Peoples' Democratic Party of cheating during the presidential election.
After losing national elections, the Peoples Democratic Party must win state-level races Saturday -- or face possible collapse.
The oba, or king, of Lagos threatened the Igbos with death if the ethnic group doesn't vote for the All Progressives Congress candidate on Saturday.
The All Progressives Congress blamed the alleged deaths of their Rivers state members on the Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria.
"In a way, it's confirmation of what many of us had quietly feared for some time," said J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council.
"If you go against my wish, you will perish in the water," the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, told the Igbos.
Leaders from 25 African nations will hold a summit this week on Boko Haram, which has killed 15,000 people since 2009, the U.N. says.
“You have a potential crisis here,” an observer says as conflict returns to the relatively peaceful Niger Delta region.
Militants carry out terror attacks on the run as military forces from three African nations advance against them.