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DE RUEHUJA #0757/01 1111210
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211210Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9252
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0265
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0261
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 6653
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

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 
 
ABUJA 00000757  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶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 
--------- 
 
¶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 
-------- 
 
¶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 
------------ 
 
¶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 
------------------- 
 
¶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" 
 
ABUJA 00000757  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
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 
------------------------- 
 
¶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 
------- 
 
¶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