US embassy cable - 04LAGOS2396

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WARRI ELECTIONS POSTPONED AGAIN, RESCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 2

Identifier: 04LAGOS2396
Wikileaks: View 04LAGOS2396 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Consulate Lagos
Created: 2004-11-30 06:16:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PGOV PINR KDEM SOCI CASC NI
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

300616Z Nov 04
UNCLAS LAGOS 002396 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, KDEM, SOCI, CASC, NI 
SUBJECT: WARRI ELECTIONS POSTPONED AGAIN, RESCHEDULED FOR 
DECEMBER 2 
 
REF: LAGOS 2383 
 
1. Late November 26, the Delta State government again 
postponed the Warri local council elections.  Delta State 
Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) representatives 
reportedly announced the elections were being postponed for 
"logistical reasons." The elections are rescheduled for 
December 2. 
 
2. Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw chief, told Poloff he and 
many others in Warri believe the elections were postponed for 
fear of violence, not logistical gaps.  Clark said the Ijaw 
concerns about the elections (reftel) remain unaddressed and 
the court still has not ruled on whether the elections can go 
ahead.  He said if the elections are held December 2, Ijaws 
will not only boycott them but "take action" to stop them. 
 
3. Comment: Though Clark does not control Ijaw militants, he 
has been publicly vocal intimating violence, and his 
statements likely reflect sentiments of militants. Tensions 
remain high and the possibility for violence remains 
considerable if elections are held December 2.  End comment. 
BROWNE 

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