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Delays overshadow Nigerian poll Delays overshadow Nigerian poll
(30 minutes later)
Officials are scrambling to get ballot papers to 120,000 polling stations in time, as Nigerians prepare to vote in landmark presidential elections. As Nigerian officials scramble to get delayed presidential ballot papers to polling stations, an attack on election headquarters in Abuja has been made.
The voting papers did not arrive from South Africa until Friday evening. Police say a petrol tanker laden with detonators was rolled towards the building in the capital city, but failed to reach its target or explode.
Correspondents said it was hard to see how they could be distributed across the vast country in time. Voting has already been delayed by two hours. It comes as voting at 120,000 polling stations has been delayed by two hours.
Before voting polls opened there was a failed attempt to blow up the electoral commission's headquarters, police say. Printing issues meant voting papers for the landmark poll did not arrive from South Africa until Friday evening.
The BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says that attackers reportedly attempted to roll a petrol tanker laden with detonators into the building from which the elections are being co-ordinated. Correspondents said that with a poor transport network it was hard to see how they could be distributed across the vast country in time.
However, the tanker missed its targets and, though there was a small fire on board, the detonators failed to trigger a large explosion. Police say a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in the failed attack on the electoral commission's headquarters, from which the elections are being co-ordinated.
NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders:
  • Atiku Abubakar for the AC, 60-years-old
  • Muhammadu Buhari, ANPP, 64
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, PDP, 55
    • Polls open 1000-1700 (local time) (0900-1600 GMT) To avoid a run-off, a candidate needs highest number of votes overall and at least 25% of votes in 24 of the 36 states Candidates' profiles Fears of chaos At the polls: Voters' log The tanker crashed into a telegraph pole and came to a halt, police say.     		NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders:
  • Atiku Abubakar for the AC, 60-years-old
  • Muhammadu Buhari, ANPP, 64
  • Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, PDP, 55
    • Polls open 1000-1700 (local time) (0900-1600 GMT) To avoid a run-off, a candidate needs highest number of votes overall and at least 25% of votes in 24 of the 36 states Candidates' profiles Fears of chaos At the polls: Voters' log The BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says that attackers reportedly attempted to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but that the tanker missed its target.
    Though there was a small fire on board, which has since been extinguished, the detonators failed to trigger a large explosion, our correspondent reports.
    The tanker crashed into a telegraph pole and came to a halt, police say.
    The election should result in the first transfer of power between civilian presidents there since independence.The election should result in the first transfer of power between civilian presidents there since independence.
    But the run-up to the poll has been marred by violence - more of which broke out on Friday night - and there have been fears for its credibility after allegations of widespread fraud in last weekend's state elections.But the run-up to the poll has been marred by violence - more of which broke out on Friday night - and there have been fears for its credibility after allegations of widespread fraud in last weekend's state elections.
    Outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power.Outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power.
    He urged aggrieved candidates and their supporters to "explore all avenues for seeking redress" rather than resorting to "jungle justice" in the aftermath of the vote.He urged aggrieved candidates and their supporters to "explore all avenues for seeking redress" rather than resorting to "jungle justice" in the aftermath of the vote.
    Polling delayPolling delay
    The Independent National Election Commission (Inec) chairman said the start of polling would be delayed by two hours and would now begin at 1000 (0900 GMT).The Independent National Election Commission (Inec) chairman said the start of polling would be delayed by two hours and would now begin at 1000 (0900 GMT).
    Maurice Iwu said 60m ballot papers had had to be printed abroad because it was not possible to do this in Nigeria in just three days.Maurice Iwu said 60m ballot papers had had to be printed abroad because it was not possible to do this in Nigeria in just three days.
    The more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student Voters' views Using texts to monitor polls At the polls: Reporters' log Nigeria fears raise oil pricesThe more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student Voters' views Using texts to monitor polls At the polls: Reporters' log Nigeria fears raise oil prices
    There was a late adjustment on Monday, when Vice-President Atiku Abubakar obtained a Supreme Court ruling that his name should be added to the presidential contest.There was a late adjustment on Monday, when Vice-President Atiku Abubakar obtained a Supreme Court ruling that his name should be added to the presidential contest.
    Mr Abubakar is considered one of the leading contenders for the presidency, alongside Umaru Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.Mr Abubakar is considered one of the leading contenders for the presidency, alongside Umaru Yar'Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party and former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.
    "We received the ballot papers for presidential and National Assembly elections at about 1800 (1700 GMT) today," Kabiru Ahmed, electoral commissioner for Nigeria's capital city Abuja, told the BBC on Friday."We received the ballot papers for presidential and National Assembly elections at about 1800 (1700 GMT) today," Kabiru Ahmed, electoral commissioner for Nigeria's capital city Abuja, told the BBC on Friday.
    "So, we are ready for the elections tomorrow morning.""So, we are ready for the elections tomorrow morning."
    However, it is not clear how Inec planned to distribute the materials across the vast country with a very poor road network and unreliable airport facilities, says the BBC's Senan Murray.However, it is not clear how Inec planned to distribute the materials across the vast country with a very poor road network and unreliable airport facilities, says the BBC's Senan Murray.
    Streets 'deserted'Streets 'deserted'
    EU observers say they are concerned about the credibility of the vote after last weekend's flawed state elections.EU observers say they are concerned about the credibility of the vote after last weekend's flawed state elections.
    Unrest before and after those polls left up to 50 people dead.Unrest before and after those polls left up to 50 people dead.
    On Friday evening further violence broke out, when militants attacked the state government house in Bayelsa state in the insecure Niger Delta.On Friday evening further violence broke out, when militants attacked the state government house in Bayelsa state in the insecure Niger Delta.
    The state governor, Goodluck Jonathan, was caught up in the clashes but was unhurt, AFP news agency reported.The state governor, Goodluck Jonathan, was caught up in the clashes but was unhurt, AFP news agency reported.
    The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura says people he has spoken to in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, say the streets are deserted and heavy machine gunfire and explosions have been heard.The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura says people he has spoken to in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, say the streets are deserted and heavy machine gunfire and explosions have been heard.
    Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East.Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East.
    But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty.But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty.