Nigerian authorities have yet again postponed the country’s parliamentary polls with elections now set to take place next Saturday, reports said.
The Election commission’s decision Sunday marks the second time that the parliamentary polls originally scheduled for April 2 have been postponed. Authorities were earlier forced to delay the process owing to logistical problems and absence of election officials at polling stations.
Election Commission chief Attahiru Jega who announced the second postponement said the decision had broad support from across the political spectrum.
“Requests to reschedule the national assembly elections have come from a cross section of stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organisations. We are more determined now to ensure that the 2011 elections are free, fair and credible,” he said.
Incidentally it was to streamline Nigeria’s election process, often flayed for its apparent shortcomings, that Jega was roped in. But the failure to hold polls on time has led to questions being asked about Jega’s competence for the top job.
Most importantly the rescheduling of parliamentary polls has had a ripple effect with Presidential and state elections too getting delayed.
On Friday, UK-based rights group Amnesty International had called upon Nigeria’s politicians to end their violent campaign in the run up to general elections. According to the rights group, as many as 20 people have been killed in political violence over the last two weeks as campaign hotted up for the upcoming elections.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has set its sights on wresting the Presidency and Parliament. The Presidential incumbent Goodluck Jonathan is also seeking his first full term in office after being elevated to the post in the wake of his predecessor Umaru Yar ‘Adua’s death.
Some 73 million registered voters are expected to cast their votes in the polls, the country’s third since military rule ended there in 1999 and the PDP has won on all three occasions.