Nigeria set to postpone parliamentary polls again

Reuters

3 April 2011

Nigeria set to postpone parliamentary polls again

ABUJA, April 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria's electoral commission (INEC) is likely to postpone nationwide parliamentary polls for a second time to April 9 after failing to get logistical preparations in place for Monday, officials said on Sunday.

Africa's most populous nation was forced to abort the elections on Saturday after voting materials failed to arrive on time in large parts of the country. It had planned to try again on Monday but several political parties complained the timeframe was too tight.

"It is very likely it will be Saturday (April 9). The commission is meeting with the political parties now and they will inform everyone shortly," said Aniedi Ikoiwak, INEC's resident commissioner in the southern oil city of Port Harcourt.

"Some parties have said they won't take part ... Without political parties there is no election so INEC has to listen to their comments," he told Reuters. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Camillus Eboh in Abuja and Joe Brock in Port Harcourt; Writing by Nick Tattersall)