Explosions heard in NE Nigeria on election day

LAGOS Nigeria

Multiple explosions were heard in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state early Saturday hours before the general polls were due to open, an official said.

“There were indeed explosions early today but we still don't have details at the moment,” Abdulkadir Ibrahim, head of the country's emergency management agency in the region, told Anadolu Agency by phone.

Locals said the explosions occurred at around 6.00 a.m. local time (0500GMT).

Last Saturday, at least 11 persons were killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

Meanwhile, a police source in Yobe state said there was an attack in Geidam town in the early hours of the day. Neither the police nor the army has commented on the development.

With the process dogged by fears of insecurity and violence, some 72.8 million voters will participate in the presidential and parliamentary ballot.

The favorites are the ruling All Progressives Congress’ incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and his main challenger Atiku Abubakar of the People's Democratic Party.

A total of 72 political parties fielded their presidential candidates.

The second leg of the general elections -- governorship and houses of assembly -- will be held on March 9.