1.
GV FLAG FLYING OVER NIGERIAN STATE HOUSE.
0.05

2.
GV ARRIVAL OF PREMIER OF MIDWEST REGION.
0.22

3.
SV POLICE MOTORCYCLISTS.
0.27

4.
GV SOLDIERS IN TRUCKS.
0.36

5.
CU POLICEMAN HOLDS TEAR GAS GUN.
0.38

6.
GV PRIME MINISTER'S CAR ARRIVING.
0.50

7.
GV CROWDS (2 SHOTS).
0.55

8.
GV PRIME MINISTER'S CAR LEAVES STATE HOUSE.
1.04

9.
GV PREMIER OF THE MIDWEST REGION LEAVING.
1.18



Initials AA/S/CR/ES AA/S/CR/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NIGERIA GOES TO THE POLLS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE FIRST NATION-WIDE ELECTION SINCE THE COUNTRY BECAME INDEPENDENT IN OCTOBER 1960. UNTIL YESTERDAY THE ELECTION WAS IN DOUBT SINCE THERE HAD BEEN DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN PRESIDENT AZIKEWE AND PRIME MINISTER SIR ABUBAKAR TAFAWA BALEWA ON THE ISSUE. THE PRESIDENT HAD FAVOURED A POSTPONEMENT.

FINAL AGREEMENT THAT THE ELECTION SHOULD TAKE PLACE WAS REACHED YESTERDAY DESPITE PROTESTS FROM ONE OF THE MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES THAT THEY MAY NOT BE FAIR.

THE FINAL DECISION ABOUT THE POLL WAS TO HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS EMERGENCY MEETING IN LAGOS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER, AND GOVERNORS AND PREMIERS OF THE COUNTRY'S FOUR REGIONS, WHICH WAS CALLED AFTER THE DISAGREEMENT.

FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE ELECTIONS WOULD GO AHEAD AS SCHEDULED, THE COUNTRY'S CHIEF OPPOSITION PARTY, THE UNITED PROGRESSIVE GRANT ALLIANCE (UPGA), ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD BOYCOTT THE ELECTIONS AND DECLARED THAT CONDITIONS FOR A FREE AND FAIR POLL DID NOT EXIST. THE ALLIANCE INCLUDES SEVEN MEMBERS IN THE PRESENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WAS FORMERLY LED BY PRESIDENT AZIKEWE.

THE MAJOR PARTY IN THE GOVERNMENT IS THE NORTHERN PEOPLE'S CONGRESS LED BY THE PRIME MINISTER SIR ABUBAKAR. HE IS DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNTRY'S OTHER MAIN GROUP, THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL ALLIANCE WHOSE 68 CANDIDATES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA HAVE BEEN RETURNED UNOPPOSED.

THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN VIOLENT DEMONSTRATIONS OVER THE ELECTION ISSUE AND YESTERDAY ARMED FORCES AND POLICE CHIEFS MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO ENSURE THAT THE POLL WAS CONDUCTED IN A PEACEFUL AN ORDERLY MANNER.

TODAY THERE IS NEWS OS A SLOW START TO VOTING WITH MANY POLLING BOOTHS DAMAGED DURING THE NIGHT. A STRIKE, CALLED YESTERDAY, HAS MET WITH LITTLE RESPONSE AND SO FAR NO INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.