Nigeria tightens voting procedures for April polls

Reuters

29 March 2011

Nigeria tightens voting procedures for April polls* Electoral body vows to stamp out fraud

* Procedures tightened at polling stations

* Credibility of process key to avoiding unrest

ABUJA, March 29 (Reuters) - Nigeria's electoral commission has tightened voting procedures for general elections which begin on Saturday in a bid to stamp out the widespread ballot-stuffing and fraud which have marred previous polls.

Africa's most populous nation holds a parliamentary election on Saturday, a presidential poll on April 9, and governorship elections in its 36 states a week later, all of which are expected to be fiercely contested.

There has already been localised violence in the run-up to the elections and the credibility of the process will be key. Allegations of fraud against either side could spark unrest.

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Voters will have to be present at polling stations to confirm they are on the register by midday (1100 GMT) so that the number of accredited voters at each unit can be publicly announced before polling begins.

They will then mark their ballot paper in a private cubicle before dropping it into a transparent box in full view of everyone at the station, in a bid to prevent multiple voting.

Results will be publicly announced by the presiding officer at each polling station immediately after the count and any unit with a higher number of votes cast than accredited voters will automatically have its results annulled.

"Any attempt by unscrupulous persons to stuff ballots or snatch boxes will be futile, as there is no way that stolen ballots can be factored into the official result," Idowu said.

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Attahiru Jega, a respected academic chosen by President Jonathan to head the electoral commission last year, has won praise for the conduct of the voter registration process, achieved despite a short time frame and logistical challenges.

But the toughest hurdles lie ahead.

Some of the tighter voting procedures were used in Nigeria's 1993 elections, generally deemed to have been its most credible vote ever. But the results were annulled by former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, paving the way for dictator Sani Abacha to seize power a few months later.

"The test isn't INEC's alone," said Idowu.

"The election body is only a midwife of the process and an umpire on the playing turf."