Abuja--Nigerians headed to the polls Saturday to elect a new president in the most closely fought election since independence, framed by Boko Haram violence, economic woes and endemic corruption in Africa's most populous nation.
From megacity Lagos and the oil hub of Port Harcourt in the south to Kano and Maiduguri in the restive north, polling stations opened at 0700 GMT, to begin accreditation for voting proper from 1230 GMT.
The late arrival of election officials and materials delayed the process at some polling stations, where thousands of people had begun queueing from the early hours and some slept overnight, AFP reporters said.
Handheld technology to read biometric voter identity cards is being used for the first time, which the country's electoral commission hopes will cut voter fraud.
But confusion arose immediately over the card readers as President Goodluck Jonathan was kept waiting for more than 15 minutes in his hometown because of an apparent malfunction.
Jonathan, wearing his trademark fedora and black suit, stood at a polling station with his wife Patience and his mother in Utuoke, southern Bayelsa state, as officials sought to resolve the problem.
His ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has voiced concerns at the technology, calling it untested, while the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed its use.
APC candidate Muhammadu Buhari, turned up in a white robe with a traditional Muslim cap at a polling station in his hometown of Daura, in northern Katsina state and acknowledged that the accreditation process went smoothly.
Fourteen candidates in all are contesting the presidential poll, while 2,537 candidates from 28 parties are vying for 469 seats in the National Assembly at the same time.
AFP
