Nigerian election chiefs stand firm on poll dates

Reuters

18 March 2011

Nigerian election chiefs stand firm on poll dates

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's electoral commission on Friday rejected opposition calls to alter the date for presidential elections because the timetable favours the ruling party, saying time was too short for any such change.

Africa's most populous nation is due to hold parliamentary elections on April 2, followed by the presidential vote on April 9, with voters electing governors in the country's 36 states to round off the process on April 16.

Opposition parties went to court requesting the presidential poll be held last, saying any other order put pressure on voters to support the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan.