WARRI ELECTIONS POSTPONED AGAIN, RESCHEDULED FOR

UNCLAS LAGOS 002396 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM SOCI CASC NI SUBJECT: WARRI ELECTIONS POSTPONED AGAIN, RESCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2 REF: LAGOS 2383 ¶1. Late November 26, the Delta State government again postponed the Warri local council elections. Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) representatives reportedly announced the elections were being postponed for "logistical reasons." The elections are rescheduled for December 2. ¶2. Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw chief, told Poloff he and many others in Warri believe the elections were postponed for fear of violence, not logistical gaps. Clark said the Ijaw concerns about the elections (reftel) remain unaddressed and the court still has not ruled on whether the elections can go ahead. He said if the elections are held December 2, Ijaws will not only boycott them but "take action" to stop them. ¶3. Comment: Though Clark does not control Ijaw militants, he has been publicly vocal intimating violence, and his statements likely reflect sentiments of militants. Tensions remain high and the possibility for violence remains considerable if elections are held December 2. End comment. BROWNE