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Nigerian polls may be postponed Death threatens Nigerian election
(30 minutes later)
Presidential elections in Nigeria on 21 April may be postponed after the death of a candidate. Nigeria's presidential election on 21 April could be postponed after the death of a candidate.
The Alliance for Democracy's Adebayo Adeferati - seen as an outside - was 79 years old and a former state governor.The Alliance for Democracy's Adebayo Adeferati - seen as an outside - was 79 years old and a former state governor.
According to Nigeria's electoral act, elections are to be delayed "until a convenient date" if a candidate dies after nomination papers are delivered.According to Nigeria's electoral act, elections are to be delayed "until a convenient date" if a candidate dies after nomination papers are delivered.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who steps down after two terms, paid tribute, saying he had been "a worthy opponent". However, a spokesman for the election commission is being quoted as saying the polls will go ahead as scheduled.
Mr Adeferati has been sick and died in hospital in Ondo State in wouth-west Nigeria. "It will not affect the elections," Inec spokesman Segun Adeogun told Reuters news agency.
President Olusegun Obasanjo, who steps down after two terms, paid tribute to Mr Adeferati at a campaign rally, saying: "He would have been a worthy opponent."
Mr Adeferati had been receiving treatment in hospital in Ondo State in south-west Nigeria.
He was governor there from 1999 to 2003, but lost a re-election bid in the April 2003 elections.He was governor there from 1999 to 2003, but lost a re-election bid in the April 2003 elections.
He was then nominated by his party as presidential candidate for Nigeria's forthcoming elections.He was then nominated by his party as presidential candidate for Nigeria's forthcoming elections.
Section 37 (1) of Nigeria's Electoral Act 2006 states that: "If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election."Section 37 (1) of Nigeria's Electoral Act 2006 states that: "If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election."
The ruling party suspended their ongoing presidential campaign rally in the centre of the capital, Abuja, to observe a minute's silence.The ruling party suspended their ongoing presidential campaign rally in the centre of the capital, Abuja, to observe a minute's silence.