Voting suspended in Suleja following fatal bomb blast

Voting has been suspended in Suleja in Niger State following last night's bomb blast at the INEC office in the town causing deaths and serious injuries.

The blast happened at around 5.30 on Friday when the office was full of staff, party supporters and others preparing for today’s National Assembly elections.

The Independent National Election Commission announced the suspension of voting in Suleja, as polls opened, across the country.

The Chairman of INEC, Professor Atthairu Jega, said there had been injuries and fatalities among permanent and ad hoc INEC staff, most of whom come from the National Youth Service Corps.

He said that the attack had been intended to “stir fear and paralyse the aspirations for peaceful and credible elections”

Reports of numbers killed vary between six and more than 20. Suleja General Hospital was reported to be unable to cope with all the casualties, some of whom had to be transferred to hospitals nearby.

Voting for the National Assembly will now take place in Suleja on 26th April, to coincide with the governorship and assembly election.