Nigeria police find bomb at campaign rally

News Time Africa (AFP)

19 Feb 2011

Nigeria police find bomb at campaign rally

Police said Saturday they had found a powerful bomb planted under one of the seats of a stand for top officials at a political campaign rally in eastern Nigeria’s Enugu State. ”It would have caused tremendous havoc,” Enugu police spokesman Ebere Amaraeze told AFP by telephone, adding that analysis indicated the effect would been “catastrophic” for 15 metres (yards) around. The bomb had been placed in the stand reserved for state governor Sullivan Chime and other dignitaries, he said. The police had launched an investigation but no arrests had been made, Amaraeze said. The rally, staged by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) went ahead as planned.

Chime is seeking another four-year term as governor but has faced stiff opposition from political rivals. Party primaries last month resulted in litigation before he was declared the PDP candidate for the April elections.