NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - SITREP 1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000757

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOE FOR CAROLYN GAY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NI ELECTIONS
SUBJECT: NIGERIA'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - SITREP 1

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1. (U) SUMMARY: General balloting in Nigeria's
Presidential and National Assembly elections is yet to get
underway as of 1130 local time. Some stations report a few
ballots cast, but others report only the potential for
balloting later in the day. No serious security incidents
reported at this time, but there has been some sporadic and
isolated confrontation due to errors in the ballot papers and
absence of voting materials or officials. In some places,
INEC is reportedly using the runoff ballots instead of the
freshly printed ballots expected from South Africa, and
errors on the ballot papers are reported throughout the
country. In some places, we have reports of ballots going
only to PDP operatives rather than polling places. Yenagoa,
the scene of a large militant operation on the night of April
20, is reported calm with a heavy military presence, and the
attack on INEC headquarters in Abuja reported by the
international media may be less than it appears. It is too
early, and voting has not begun in enough locations, to say
what the mood will be during and after the elections. END
SUMMARY.

LOGISTICS
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2. (U) The balloting in Nigeria's Presidential and National
Assembly elections is yet to get generally underway as of
1130 local time. Some stations report ballots cast, but
others report only potential for voting later in the day.
Mission observers report throughout the country that ballots
have been delivered to INEC offices (through the Central Bank
of Nigeria (CBN) local offices) and distribution to polling
places was beginning by about 1130. Mission observers report
about 30 percent of registered voters in many places
throughout the country lined up and patiently (for the most
part) waiting. In Lagos and most of the Niger Delta region,
lines are by and large significantly shorter.

SECURITY
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3. (U) No serious security incidents have been reported at
this time, but there have been some sporadic and isolated
incidents due to errors in the ballot papers and absence of
voting materials or officials. Reports indicate that INEC
offices have been destroyed in Daura (Katsina state) and
Keffi (Nasarawa state) over non-supply or shortages of
materials. A group of about 200 angry voters in Kaduna
became violent, forcing RSO vehicles to exit the area. In
Enugu, Mission observers have reported some harassment
similar to EU Observer reports collected after last weeks
elections, including restricting of movement and turning away
from particular areas. For now, this appears isolated to
this area and is probably attributable to overzealous
security agents manning the numberous roadblocks.

INEC STORIES
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4. (U) Mission observers report that INEC is using runoff
ballots instead of the freshly printed ballots expected from
South Africa. These ballots contain only party name and
symbol instead of the candidate's names and photographs and
are delivered in cartons marked "Runoff Ballots." Errors on
the ballot papers have forced the postponement of some
National Assembly elections in Abia, Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna,
Rivers, and Delta. In most cases, the reason was omission of
candidates from the ballot. In the case of Kaduna, the
cancellation was due to a call from INEC headquarters in
Abuja, and no reason was given.

POLITICAL INFLUENCE
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5. (U) In some places, we have reports of ballots going only
to PDP operatives rather than to polling places. Mission
observers in Benue state report that poll materials are being
distributed to local government officials, at which point
they are taken away to undisclosed locations rather than to
the polling units. An NGO in Rivers state and local
observers in Delta state report that all poll workers at the
few stations that are open are "known members of the PDP"

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connected directly to the State governments. In Rivers
states, the NGO representative reports that no opposition
party agents are at any of the sites and that they are being
"actively discouraged" from going by police and polling
agents.

YENAGOA AND ABUJA ATTACKS
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6. (U) Yenagoa, the scene of a large militant operation on
the night of April 20, is reported calm with a heavy military
presence. Reports vary, but indications are that at least
100, and as many as 200, militants attacked the police
station, the INEC office and the Governors house in the
capital of Bayelsa state on the night of April 20. Official
statements claim the goal was to kidnap PDP's Vice
Presidential candidate (and current Governor of Bayelsa)
Goodluck Jonathan. Militant sources claim the goal was the
kidnapping of Governor-elect Timipre Silva and creating
enough confusion that the "sham elections of April 14" could
not be repeated.


7. (U) The attack on INEC headquarters in Abuja may be less
than it appears in international media reports. Observers at
the scene question the ability of a lamppost to stop a fully
loaded tanker on a downhill roll. They also point out that
the "gas cannisters" (LP gas tanks similar to those on
barbecue grills) that were allegedly set to explode the
tanker and were supposedly burning when "security" halted the
attack were not near the truck and showed no signs of
scorching. Also, we have no evidence of any foam or other
material that would have been required to extinguish such
flames.

COMMENT
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8. (U) It is too early, and voting has not begun in enough
locations, to say what the mood will be during and after the
elections. It is worth noting, however, that the major
violence in the Gubernatorial elections took place at the
announcement of results rather than the balloting itself.
CAMPBELL