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Gambia: IEC Chairman Off To Abuja

The Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Alhagy Mustapha Carayol on Tuesday 10th April 2007 left Banjul for Abuja as part of the ECOWAS delegation of observers of the Nigerian presidential and gubernatorial elections. An IEC press statement released on Wednesday 11th April 2007 stated that Mr. Carayol was accompanied by a high-powered IEC delegation. They are to be part of the sub-regional team of electoral observers headed by former Gambian President Sir Dawda Jawara. The team is expected to stay in Nigeria for about two weeks till April the 25th.  

Tensions are said to be high in many areas as Nigeria, Africa’s most populous state and biggest democracy, moves to wards holding elections later this month. Riots reportedly broke out in the northern state of Katsina on Wednesday 11th April preventing former Head of State General Buhari, who is a presidential contender from holding a public rally. The riots broke out after President Obansanjo, on Wednesday declared that both Thursday April 12th and Friday April 13th as public holidays. Opposition supporters suspect that the declaration of public holidays was done in order to prevent a Supreme Court ruling on the eligibility of the outgoing President’s deputy and bitter political rival. Apart from the scores of governors that are to be elected in the coming polls, Nigerians will chose the man to replace President Olesegun Obasanjo as head of state of oil rich but impoverished nation.