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| Confusion mars Nigeria election | Confusion mars Nigeria election |
| (4 days later) | |
| State elections in Nigeria have been marred by late opening of polling stations, missing ballot papers and in some areas violence and intimidation. | State elections in Nigeria have been marred by late opening of polling stations, missing ballot papers and in some areas violence and intimidation. |
| Voting had been extended because of the late opening but it has now ended and ballots are being counted. | Voting had been extended because of the late opening but it has now ended and ballots are being counted. |
| The polls are a key test ahead of next weekend's presidential elections. | The polls are a key test ahead of next weekend's presidential elections. |
| President Olusegun Obasanjo said he thought polling had gone relatively well but the opposition said there were widespread irregularities and fraud. | President Olusegun Obasanjo said he thought polling had gone relatively well but the opposition said there were widespread irregularities and fraud. |
| The outcome of Saturday's election for governors and state legislatures is as important to many Nigerians as the presidential poll. | The outcome of Saturday's election for governors and state legislatures is as important to many Nigerians as the presidential poll. |
| In pics: Nigerian state polls href="/1/hi/world/africa/6555959.stm">Voters disappointed | |
| State governors can be extremely powerful, controlling budgets of around $1bn, especially in oil-rich states. | State governors can be extremely powerful, controlling budgets of around $1bn, especially in oil-rich states. |
| The poll was being seen as an important indicator of how free and fair the presidential polls will be. | The poll was being seen as an important indicator of how free and fair the presidential polls will be. |
| Nigerians lined up in the sun for hours to cast their ballots, with many having to put up with the late arrival of election officials, inadequate voting materials, and in some cases, intimidation by youths supporting one party or another. | Nigerians lined up in the sun for hours to cast their ballots, with many having to put up with the late arrival of election officials, inadequate voting materials, and in some cases, intimidation by youths supporting one party or another. |
| Station stormed | Station stormed |
| President Obasanjo had said that fraud or violence would not be tolerated. | President Obasanjo had said that fraud or violence would not be tolerated. |
| But in Port Harcourt - the largest city in the oil producing Niger Delta - the BBC's Alex Last said there was genuine fear of violence and vote rigging. | But in Port Harcourt - the largest city in the oil producing Niger Delta - the BBC's Alex Last said there was genuine fear of violence and vote rigging. |
| Our correspondent was at one polling station that had only been open for a few minutes when a gang of young men on motorcycles stormed it and made off with the ballot papers and ballot box. | Our correspondent was at one polling station that had only been open for a few minutes when a gang of young men on motorcycles stormed it and made off with the ballot papers and ballot box. |
| Early on Saturday, suspected militants torched three police stations, killing seven policemen. | Early on Saturday, suspected militants torched three police stations, killing seven policemen. |
| The biggest issue in the elections is the future of my children, the future of Nigeria's children Eunice Folorunso Election voices | The biggest issue in the elections is the future of my children, the future of Nigeria's children Eunice Folorunso Election voices |
| In the commercial capital, Lagos, an opposition stronghold, the streets were abnormally quiet and the military was out in full force manning checkpoints at key road junctions. | In the commercial capital, Lagos, an opposition stronghold, the streets were abnormally quiet and the military was out in full force manning checkpoints at key road junctions. |
| Many polling stations in different parts of the country opened several hours late. | Many polling stations in different parts of the country opened several hours late. |
| The BBC News website's Senan Murray was at a polling station in the Rukuba area of Jos in central Nigeria and saw eager people queuing to vote from early on Saturday. | The BBC News website's Senan Murray was at a polling station in the Rukuba area of Jos in central Nigeria and saw eager people queuing to vote from early on Saturday. |
| But electoral officers only turned up just before midday to open the polling station. | But electoral officers only turned up just before midday to open the polling station. |
| Voter Yakubu Ropshak, 27, said: "We are waiting and we are not going anywhere until we vote." | Voter Yakubu Ropshak, 27, said: "We are waiting and we are not going anywhere until we vote." |
| In some areas of Rivers State and Delta, voting had not begun by mid-afternoon, Reuters reported. | In some areas of Rivers State and Delta, voting had not begun by mid-afternoon, Reuters reported. |
| Electoral chief Maurice Iwo assured Nigerians that "people who are already at the polling stations will be allowed to vote, no matter how late". | Electoral chief Maurice Iwo assured Nigerians that "people who are already at the polling stations will be allowed to vote, no matter how late". |
| Many busy centres were staying opening into the evening to allow people to cast their ballots. | Many busy centres were staying opening into the evening to allow people to cast their ballots. |
| There were pockets of violence in some other parts of the country where election materials were destroyed and electoral officers attacked. | There were pockets of violence in some other parts of the country where election materials were destroyed and electoral officers attacked. |