LAGOS – Nigerians voted in a delayed parliamentary election on Saturday, voicing determination to hold a credible poll in Africa’s most populous nation despite chaotic organisation and violence.
At least seven more people were killed in four separate incidents in the last few hours before polling. Those deaths followed the killing of at least 10 people by a bomb at an election office late on Friday. Violence which has taken around 100 lives in the run-up to the election, as well as the logistical chaos which forced the postponement of the vote a week ago, have renewed doubts over whether democracy can work in Nigeria.
“We want to show the rest of the world that we are ready for democracy,” said Mukaila Odukoya, a 45-year old trader, in the Obalende district of Nigeria’s biggest city, Lagos.”This one is going to be far, far better than the past. This is going to be one man one vote. It is not going to be easy for people to buy ballot papers, though they are trying,” Odukoya said, proudly clutching his voter registration card.
Nigeria, with more people than Russia, has failed to hold a fair and orderly vote since military rule ended 12 years ago. Saturday’s parliamentary vote will be followed by the more important presidential election on April 16, which President Goodluck Jonathan is tipped to win. Governorship polls in 36 states will be held on April 26. Initial signs were that preparations were better in much of Nigeria than during the first attempt to hold the vote, when ballot papers failed to reach most of the country. Security was noticeably tighter. Soldiers used tables, tyres and even a hatstand as makeshift barricades to enforce traffic restrictions, while children on bikes shared deserted eight-lane highways in Lagos with footballers and the odd family of goats.
