NIGERIA WOULD HOLD GENERAL ELECTIONS BETWEEN APRIL 7 AND APRIL 29 2007, CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE-RUN INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, MAURICE IWU, ANNOUNCED IN CALABAR, SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA, ON WEDNESDAY, DPA REPORTED. HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THE MODE OF THE ELECTION WAS STILL UNCLEAR AS THE COMMISSION WAS STILL WAITING FOR PARLIAMENT TO PASS THE NEW ELECTORAL BILL INTO LAW. IWU SAID IF THE PARLIAMENT FAILED TO PASS THE NEW ELECTORAL LAW, WHICH INTRODUCED ELECTRONIC VOTING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NIGERIA, THE COMMISSION WOULD CONDUCT THE ELECTION BASED ON THE 2002 ELECTORAL ACT STIPULATING SECRET BALLOTING. THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION MARKED ANOTHER MILESTONE IN NIGERIA'S MARCH TOWARD ENTRENCHING DEMOCRACY. A MAJOR MILESTONE WAS LAST WEDNESDAY' REJECTION BY PARLIAMENT, OF A THIRD TERM BID BY PRESIDENT OLUSEGUN OBASANJO. OBASANJO BECAME PRESIDENT IN MAY 1999 WITH THE RETURN OF NIGERIA TO DEMOCRACY AFTER 16 YEARS OF UNBROKEN MILITARY RULE. -
