Nigerians turned out for a delayed parliamentary election on Saturday, voicing determination to hold a credible vote in Africa’s most populous nation despite chaotic organisation and violence.
“We want to show the rest of the world that we are ready for democracy,” said Mukaila Odukoya, a 45-year old trader, in the Obalende district of Lagos as people clamoured to find their names on the voter register at a polling booth.
“This one is going to be far, far better than the past. This is going to be one man one vote. It is not going to be easy for people to buy ballot papers, though they are trying,” Odukoya said, proudly clutching his voter registration card.
Nigeria, with more people than Russia, has failed to hold a fair and orderly vote since military rule ended 12 years ago.
The latest round of elections got off to an inauspicious start last Saturday when the parliamentary vote was postponed because of administrative bungling.
Nearly 100 people have been reported dead in violence in the poll run-up, including at least 10 in a bomb attack on an election office late on Friday.
Saturday’s parliamentary vote will be followed by the more important presidential election on April 16, which President Goodluck Jonathan is tipped to win. Governorship polls in 36 states will be held on April 26.
Although electoral officials failed to turn up on time in some places on Saturday and materials were still arriving as voters gathered, initial signs were that preparations were better in much of Nigeria than during the first attempt.
High hopes
Enthusiastic voters lined up at polling centres from the swamps and teeming cities of the south to the dustblown north on the fringes of the Sahara Desert.
“I came out to defend my democracy,” said Suleiman Garuba (45) in the ancient Islamic centre of Kano, the second biggest city. “I saw people coming out in masses. I decided to join them and vote to become part of the change we are clamouring for.”
Security was tightened nationwide after a bombing killed at least 10 people late on Friday at an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Suleja, on the edge of the capital Abuja. There was no claim of responsibility.
“There are some anti-social elements that want to derail the process of the voting, but they will not succeed,” said President Jonathan after registering to vote at his village in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, itself beset by violence.
Under procedures to try to stop cheating, up to 73-million voters must first register from 7am GMT before the actual voting starts at 12.30pm.
The ballot was called off last Saturday after voting slips and other materials failed to reach most of Nigeria.
Another delay will affect voting in places, although it is due to be held in almost 90% of constituencies. The ballot was postponed again in Suleja after the bombing.
“I want to vote. It is our future we are trying to keep safe,” said computer engineer Tunde Dasilva beside the rubble of the election office.
Seats in the national assembly are fiercely contested by candidates who stand to win a package whose benefits alone amount to more than $1-million a year.
Isolated bomb attacks have hit campaign rallies, violence blamed on a radical sect has affected the remote northeast and sectarian clashes have erupted in the centre of a nation roughly split between a Muslim north and Christian south.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party may remain the biggest party, but with a smaller parliamentary majority. The PDP holds more than three-quarters of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives and of the 109 in the Senate. – Reuters