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Delays overshadow Nigerian poll Delays overshadow Nigerian poll
(10 minutes later)
Landmark Nigerian presidential polls have begun after delays getting ballot papers to the 120,000 polling stations.Landmark Nigerian presidential polls have begun after delays getting ballot papers to the 120,000 polling stations.
Voting failed to start in many parts of the country as scheduled, even though the start was delayed by two hours. Voting failed to begin in many parts of the country as scheduled, even though the start was delayed by two hours.
Printing issues meant voting papers for the landmark poll did not arrive from South Africa until Friday evening.Printing issues meant voting papers for the landmark poll did not arrive from South Africa until Friday evening.
An overnight attack on election hq in Abuja failed when a petrol tanker laden with detonators failed to explode after being rolled towards its target.An overnight attack on election hq in Abuja failed when a petrol tanker laden with detonators failed to explode after being rolled towards its target.
It appears even the president's home is subject to electricity cuts Sola Odunfa in Abeokuta At the polls: Reporters' logIt appears even the president's home is subject to electricity cuts Sola Odunfa in Abeokuta At the polls: Reporters' log
Correspondents said that with a poor transport network it was hard to see how the ballot papers could be distributed across the vast country in time. Voting began on time in Kasina, home of two of the main presidential candidates, but in parts of the capital Abuja - there was no sign of election material or officials despite lines of people waiting to vote.
Similar problems were being reported from the southern cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt.
The election should result in the first transfer of power between civilian presidents there since independence.
But the run-up to the poll has been marred by violence - more of which broke out on Friday night.
NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders:
  • Atiku Abubakar for the AC, 60-years-old
  • Muhammadu Buhari, ANPP, 64
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, PDP, 55
    • Polls open 1000-1700 (local time) (0900-1600 GMT) To avoid a run-off, a candidate needs highest number of votes overall and at least 25% of votes in 24 of the 36 states Candidates' profiles Fears of chaos
    Police say a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in the failed attack on the electoral commission's headquarters, from which the elections are being co-ordinated.Police say a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in the failed attack on the electoral commission's headquarters, from which the elections are being co-ordinated.
    The BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says that attackers reportedly attempted to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but that the tanker missed its target.The BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says that attackers reportedly attempted to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but that the tanker missed its target.
    Though there was a small fire on board, which has since been extinguished, the detonators failed to trigger a large explosion, our correspondent reports.Though there was a small fire on board, which has since been extinguished, the detonators failed to trigger a large explosion, our correspondent reports.
    The tanker crashed into a telegraph pole and came to a halt, police say.The tanker crashed into a telegraph pole and came to a halt, police say.
    NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders:
  • Atiku Abubakar for the AC, 60-years-old
  • Muhammadu Buhari, ANPP, 64
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, PDP, 55
    •  Polls open 1000-1700 (local time) (0900-1600 GMT) To avoid a run-off, a candidate needs highest number of votes overall and at least 25% of votes in 24 of the 36 states class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6205876.stm">Candidates' profiles class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6576765.stm">Fears of chaos class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6577091.stm">At the polls: Voters' log     		Polling delay
    The election should result in the first transfer of power between civilian presidents there since independence. There have been fears for its credibility after allegations of widespread fraud in last weekend's state elections.
    But the run-up to the poll has been marred by violence - more of which broke out on Friday night - and there have been fears for its credibility after allegations of widespread fraud in last weekend's state elections.
    Outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power.Outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power.
    Arrival of voting material in time is good Idris Dangalan in Kano At the polls: Voters' log
    He urged aggrieved candidates and their supporters to "explore all avenues for seeking redress" rather than resorting to "jungle justice" in the aftermath of the vote.He urged aggrieved candidates and their supporters to "explore all avenues for seeking redress" rather than resorting to "jungle justice" in the aftermath of the vote.
    Polling delay Inec delayed polling by two hours after they reprinted the ballot papers to include the Vice-President Atiku Abubakar following a court ruling on Monday.
    The Independent National Election Commission (Inec) chairman said the start of polling would be delayed by two hours and would now begin at 1000 (0900 GMT).
    Maurice Iwu said 60m ballot papers had had to be printed abroad because it was not possible to do this in Nigeria in just three days.
    The more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student Voters' views Using texts to monitor polls Nigeria fears raise oil prices
    There was a late adjustment on Monday, when Vice-President Atiku Abubakar obtained a Supreme Court ruling that his name should be added to the presidential contest.
    Mr Abubakar is considered one of the leading contenders for the presidency, alongside Umaru Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.Mr Abubakar is considered one of the leading contenders for the presidency, alongside Umaru Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
    "We received the ballot papers for presidential and National Assembly elections at about 1800 (1700 GMT) today," Kabiru Ahmed, electoral commissioner for Nigeria's capital city Abuja, told the BBC on Friday."We received the ballot papers for presidential and National Assembly elections at about 1800 (1700 GMT) today," Kabiru Ahmed, electoral commissioner for Nigeria's capital city Abuja, told the BBC on Friday.
    "So, we are ready for the elections tomorrow morning."
    However, it is not clear how Inec planned to distribute the materials across the vast country with a very poor road network and unreliable airport facilities, says the BBC's Senan Murray.However, it is not clear how Inec planned to distribute the materials across the vast country with a very poor road network and unreliable airport facilities, says the BBC's Senan Murray.
    Streets 'deserted'Streets 'deserted'
    EU observers say they are concerned about the credibility of the vote after last weekend's flawed state elections.EU observers say they are concerned about the credibility of the vote after last weekend's flawed state elections.
    Unrest before and after those polls left up to 50 people dead.Unrest before and after those polls left up to 50 people dead.
    The more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student Voters' views Using texts to monitor polls Nigeria fears raise oil prices
    On Friday evening further violence broke out, when militants attacked the state government house in Bayelsa state in the insecure Niger Delta.On Friday evening further violence broke out, when militants attacked the state government house in Bayelsa state in the insecure Niger Delta.
    The state governor, Goodluck Jonathan, was caught up in the clashes but was unhurt, AFP news agency reported.The state governor, Goodluck Jonathan, was caught up in the clashes but was unhurt, AFP news agency reported.
    The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura says people he has spoken to in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, say the streets are deserted and heavy machine gunfire and explosions have been heard.The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura says people he has spoken to in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, say the streets are deserted and heavy machine gunfire and explosions have been heard.
    Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East.Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East.
    But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty.But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty.