Nigeria’s electoral agency on Tuesday raised the possibility of a third delay of parliamentary polls in some parts of the country if logistical problems cannot be solved before this weekend.
“It’s only in principle as agreed with political parties last Sunday that wherever the lapse can’t be effectively redressed by Saturday — and these [places] are extremely few — the poll may be slightly deferred,” electoral commission spokesperson Kayode Idowu said.
A meeting was taking place on Tuesday between electoral commission chief Attahiru Jega and state poll officials.
The National Assembly election, now set for Saturday, has already been postponed twice due to widespread organisational problems. The second delay also pushed back presidential and state polls that are due to follow.
Parliamentary polls, originally scheduled for last Saturday, were later moved to Monday, and finally deferred until April 9.
Major problems became clear Saturday morning, with large numbers of polling places without materials and personnel.
Voting had already begun in some areas on Saturday when Jega pulled the plug. Ballots used in those areas must now be secured and replaced, while other materials, including result sheets, must be distributed.
There were also claims of mistakes on a large number of ballots that must be corrected.
This month’s landmark polls are being viewed as a critical test of whether Africa’s largest oil producer, also the continent’s most populous nation, can organise a credible ballot after a history of election fraud and violence.
Presidential elections are set for April 16, while governorship and state assembly polls are to be held April 26. — Sapa-AFP