NIGERIA: Nigerians angry after logistical chaos delays parliamentary and presidential elections by one week

Record ID: 235157

  • Title: NIGERIA: Nigerians angry after logistical chaos delays parliamentary and presidential elections by one week
  • Date: 5th April 2011
  • Summary: PEOPLE ARGUING ABOUT ELECTION POSTPONMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) LATEEF ADEWALE, TRADER IN LAGOS, SAYING: "This clearly is an embarrasment. You see if you look at my two hands, I have already voted but unfortunately we just heard the rumours that the elctions have been postponed and it is not good." VARIOUS PEOPLE READING NEWSPAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMMANUEL IKECHUKWU, BUSINESSMAN IN LAGOS, SAYING: "I am not happy about it because I think it is very long Nigeria should get things right. We have stayed, we have waited for this election to be for a very long time, so it is sad for us to come and hear that it is being postponed." MORE OF PEOPLE READING NEWSPAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) KAREEM OWOLALAFE, BUSINESSMAN IN LAGOS, SAYING: "This morning I heard that (elections have been moved to) another Saturday again. It's been since about four, five years of preparing, so I don't understand Nigeria's progress at all." MORE PEOPLE TALKING ON THE STREETS ABOUT ELECTIONS PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMMANUEL IROANUSI SAYING: "I think it is going to be free and fair because for his courage, for the INEC headsman to have that courage to tell us, but I believe if he had done it earlier than that, it would have been better." VARIOUS OF STREETS OF LAGOS
  • Embargoed: 20th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nigeria, Nigeria
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACZ4E4H1QVUGENABR6RKSZDMKN
  • Story Text: Nigerians on Monday (April 4) said they were dismayed and angry after logistical chaos forced the country's electoral body to postpone elections for another week.
    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed parliamentary and presidential elections by one week on Sunday (April 3) after failing to be prepared in time, a major embarrassment for a nation hoping to break with a history of chaotic polls.
    Africa's most populous country will now hold parliamentary elections on April 9, presidential elections on April 16 and governorship elections in its 36 states on April 26.
    Nigeria was forced to abort parliamentary elections on Saturday (April 2) after voting materials failed to arrive on time in large parts of the country.
    It had planned to try again on Monday, but political parties complained the timeframe was too tight.
    Voting had already started in Nigeria's biggest cities -- the commercial capital Lagos in the south and Kano in the north -- and in some other parts of the country when INEC was forced to postpone the process on Saturday.
    One of those who voted on Saturday is Lagos trader Lateef Adewale whose vote on Saturday is now void; he will have to vote again on April 9.
    "This clearly is an embarrasment, you see if you look at my two hands, I have already voted but unfortunately we just heard the rumours that the elections have been postponed and it is not good," said Adewale.
    Elections since military rule ended 12 years ago have all been marred by ballot-stuffing and intimidation.
    The 2011 elections had been eagerly anticipated as a chance to break that cycle.
    "I am not happy about it because I think it is very long Nigeria should get things right. We have stayed, we have waited for this election to be for a very long time, so it is sad for us to come and hear that it is being postponed," said businessman Emmanuel Ikechukwu.
    "It's been since about four, five years of preparing, so I don't understand Nigeria's progress at all," echoed businessman Kareem Owolalafe.
    Conspiracy theories were already abundant after the first postponement, ranging from a concerted bid to discredit the electoral commission by those scared of a free poll, to an attempt by the ruling party to cling on to power.
    Adding to the confusion, there were also reports of names missing from the much vaunted new electoral roll, and of an opposition party being completely left off Senate ballot papers in Lagos.
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