Nigeria election commission to seek poll delay

 Abuja, 20 Sept-(ANA)-Nigeria's electoral commission has said it would explore all legal avenues to push back the date for nationwide polls to enable it to credibly overhaul the country's voter register.

Nigeria is due to hold presidential, parliamentary and state governorship elections in January, but the INEC electoral commission has warned it is in a race against time to amend a deeply flawed electoral roll.

"The commission shall endeavour to engage all the relevant stakeholders with a view to exploring all legal avenues for extension of time to enable the commission to deliver on the aspirations of Nigerians for a credible voters' register and free, fair and credible elections," INEC said in a statement.

It said the May 29 date for the inauguration of the winner of the presidential election would remain "sacrosanct" even if the timetable were to be amended. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: (ANA)

FA/ANA/20 September 2010------------