The World - News from Dec. 14, 1987

New elections may be held in parts of Nigeria in the wake of charges of vote rigging during balloting for local councils in the country’s first elections since 1983, a top election official said. Eme Awa, chairman of the National Electoral Commission, made his comments on national television after reports that polling booths were left without enough ballot papers, ink and other voting materials. In addition to reports that many voting cards had fallen into the wrong hands, the News Agency of Nigeria said that police had arrested more than 20 people--including electoral officers, candidates and underage voters--in 10 of Nigeria’s 21 states.