Nigeria’s Independent Electoral Commission has released the timetable for next year’s general elections.
It says seats for the National Assembly will be chosen on April 12th, with the presidential vote set for April 19th. In the event a runoff is need, voters will go to the polls on April 26th. Finally, state assembly seats will be chosen on May 4th.
Nigeria has yet to successfully hand over power from one civilian administration to another in its forty-two years as an independent nation. There are thirty political parties taking part in the elections, compared to only three when democratic elections restored civilian rule over three years ago.
English to Africa reporter Paul Okolo has details from Lagos.