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Security tight for Nigeria polls Security steep as Nigeria votes
(about 2 hours later)
The people of Nigeria are voting in state polls seen as a key test of the electoral process before the presidential vote next weekend. Voting is underway in Nigeria's state polls after a late start in many parts.
It is the winners of this Saturday's election who will wield the most effect on daily life for the 140m inhabitants of Africa's most populous state.
The conduct and results of this vote at state level are being seen as a key test of the electoral process before the presidential vote next weekend.
Tight security is in operation amid fears of violence instigated by gangs sponsored by rival politicians.Tight security is in operation amid fears of violence instigated by gangs sponsored by rival politicians.
President Olusegun Obasanjo says fraud or violence will not be tolerated.President Olusegun Obasanjo says fraud or violence will not be tolerated.
Unconfirmed reports said seven policemen had been killed in an attack on their station in southern Nigeria on Saturday morning. In the commercial capital Lagos - an opposition stronghold - the streets and freeways are abnormally quiet and the military is out in full force manning checkpoints at key road junctions.
The government says thousands of soldiers and police will be out in force to try to ensure tens of millions of Nigerians can vote in peace. Standing around
Increased security was evident in the northern city of Kano, where leading militant Islamic cleric, Ustaz Ja'afar Adam, was shot dead on Friday. Many polling stations in different parts of the country opened several hours late.
The interior ministry has ordered the closure of its land and sea borders for 12 hours on Saturday (0500 to 1700 GMT) in an effort to "ensure a hitch-free electoral process", according to the AFP news agency.
 President's warning
Correspondents say the day's elections of state governors are an important indicator of how free and fair the presidential polls will be.
They are also important as state governors can be extremely powerful - with budgets of around $1bn, especially in oil-rich states. Unscrupulous politicians are said to hire armed gangs to terrorise their opposition or steal ballot boxes.
The BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says the heavy security presence helped ensure that the main Friday prayers in Kano passed off peacefully with people going home rather than holding protests about the shooting of Mr Adam.
Mr Adam was killed by unidentified gunmen while leading prayers in a local mosque. Another person was also killed.
The motive remains unclear - although Mr Adam had made enemies both of the local state governor standing for re-election and of other Islamic groups who he has accused of not being Islamic enough.
'Fanning discord'
Our correspondent says preparations across the 36 states appear to be in degrees of confusion ranging from serious to chaotic.
Many election observers have still not received their accreditation. In some states, court cases are still continuing as to who the rightful candidates for governor should be.
The biggest issue in the elections is the future of my children, the future of Nigeria's children Eunice Folorunso Election voicesThe biggest issue in the elections is the future of my children, the future of Nigeria's children Eunice Folorunso Election voices
The same is true of the presidential election. Sample ballot papers exclude one of the three main presidential candidates - the current Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. He as been excluded over corruption allegations, but an appeal court could reverse that decision on Monday. The BBC News website's Senan Murray is at a polling station in the Rukuba area of Jos in central Nigeria.
President Obasanjo warned that the government would "deal firmly" with acts of fraud and violence in forthcoming elections. He says eager voters are standing around in long queues, under the sun, waiting to cast their ballot.
"It is a matter of great regret... that some supposedly highly placed individuals have been reported to be fanning the embers of discord, hatred, violence and destruction," Mr Obasanjo said in a national radio and TV broadcast. Electoral officers only turned up just before midday to open the polling station.
This was seen as a thinly veiled attack on Mr Abubakar, who has fallen out with the president. Voter Yakubu Ropshak, 27, said: "We are waiting and we are not going anywhere until we vote."
Mr Abubakar says Mr Obasanjo declared two days of public holiday on Thursday and Friday to further delay his court case. Mr Obasanjo says the holidays were to enable people to travel to where they registered to vote. Our correspondent says that already there have been pockets of violence in some parts of the country where election materials have been destroyed and electoral officers attacked.
With Mr Abubakar's candidacy in doubt, the main contenders for president are the ruling party's Umaru Yar'Adua and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP). In Port Harcourt, the largest city in the oil producing Niger Delta, suspected militants torched two police stations early on Saturday, killing seven policemen.
Mr Obasanjo, who was re-elected in 2003, is stepping down at the end of next month after two terms in office. In north-eastern Bauchi state an office block belonging to the Independent National Election Commission (Inet) was burnt by protestors in Gamawe village.
HAVE YOUR SAY Despite all the odds associated with this election, Nigerians must play their part and exercise their rights Adeleye Adenola, Australia Are you voting?
Resident election commissioner, Aniedi Abasi-Ikiowar told our correspondent that the destruction of the office building would not affect voting in the area.
And in the Asari-Toro local government area of Rivers State an Inet van was attacked and escorts were shot at by unknown gunmen.
These polls to decide Nigeria's state governors are an important indicator of how free and fair the presidential polls will be.
They are also important as state governors can be extremely powerful - with budgets of around $1bn, especially in oil-rich states.
Are you voting? Has the threat of violence at the polls affected your decision to vote? What has been your experience of the heavy security presence in the area? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you voting? Has the threat of violence at the polls affected your decision to vote? What has been your experience of the heavy security presence in the area? Send us your comments using the form below.
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