.- Nigeria's presidential elections began today with no notable incidents, although less than expected participation in the early days, local media reported today. The process occurs normally, but voter turnout is less than that recorded last week in the legislative elections in much of the country, especially in the southern part (mostly Christian), home area of President, Goodluck Jonathan.
However, the north of the country (predominantly Muslim) recorded a high turnout. In addition, it has been found missing key electoral material in some areas of Africa's most populous country and to children who come to vote. Nigeria's current president and candidate for reelection by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan, has been among the first to vote in his hometown, Otuoke.
In the hours before the opening of polling stations were several violent acts, as two explosions in the northern town of Maiduguri, in which there were no casualties or wounded to lament, or the murder of two people last night carried out by two gunmen also caused five wounded in the same area.
Although currently unknown responsibility for the attack, the city is the subject of regular attacks by the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram, often choosing political and security officials as their targets. During last Saturday's legislative elections, postponed twice for lack of basic electoral material, "39 people were killed in various violent incidents related to the elections.
The Nigerian authorities have deployed thousands 240 000 police and armed officers around the country to secure a presidential election and the events of last week are not repeated. Although there is no official timetable for closing the polls, INEC believes that voting will end at 18:30 local time (17:30 GMT).
The accreditation of registered voters began at 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) and lasted for four hours. Fifteen candidates aspiring to the presidency of Nigeria, of which only four appear to have possibilities, including the current president of Nigeria. 
However, the north of the country (predominantly Muslim) recorded a high turnout. In addition, it has been found missing key electoral material in some areas of Africa's most populous country and to children who come to vote. Nigeria's current president and candidate for reelection by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Goodluck Jonathan, has been among the first to vote in his hometown, Otuoke.
In the hours before the opening of polling stations were several violent acts, as two explosions in the northern town of Maiduguri, in which there were no casualties or wounded to lament, or the murder of two people last night carried out by two gunmen also caused five wounded in the same area.
Although currently unknown responsibility for the attack, the city is the subject of regular attacks by the Islamic fundamentalist group Boko Haram, often choosing political and security officials as their targets. During last Saturday's legislative elections, postponed twice for lack of basic electoral material, "39 people were killed in various violent incidents related to the elections.
The Nigerian authorities have deployed thousands 240 000 police and armed officers around the country to secure a presidential election and the events of last week are not repeated. Although there is no official timetable for closing the polls, INEC believes that voting will end at 18:30 local time (17:30 GMT).
The accreditation of registered voters began at 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT) and lasted for four hours. Fifteen candidates aspiring to the presidency of Nigeria, of which only four appear to have possibilities, including the current president of Nigeria.
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