According to West Africa magazine, Reuters and Le Monde, the elections which were held throughout the wards and local government areas used an open ballot system (24-30 September 1990, 2586; 5 April 1991; 30 March 1991). West Africa further added that with this type of voting, voters are required to queue up behind the councillorship and chairmanship candidates of their choice (24-30 September 1990, 2586). West Africa later reported that the President, state governors and other officials would not vote during the December local government elections (29 Oct.- 4 Nov. 1990, 2751). The magazine also mentioned that the government and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) chose the open ballot system because the secret ballot system had failed over the past 30 years (Ibid.). The NEC planned to employ 414,000 orderlies in an attempt to ensure the success of the open ballot system during the local elections (West Africa, 5-11 November 1990, 2792). These orderlies, in conjunction with the police and national youth corps members, were to be sent to voting centres to ensure that the voting was conducted peacefully (Ibid.). There is a report from Katsina state that the illegal purchase of voters' registration cards by politicians was common practice in most local government areas (West Africa, 19-25 November 1990, 2872).
In the state of Sokoto, the National Republican Convention (NRC) won the election (West Africa, 17-23 December 1990, 3060). A representative of the Embassy of Nigeria in Ottawa corroborated the information that the December election used the open ballot system of voting. This source also reported that no states or cities used the secret or closed ballot system of voting in these elections since the NEC requires elections throughout the country to be held according to a single standard system.
Bibliography

West Africa. 17-23 December 1990. "Local Election Success."

p. 3060.

. 19-25 November 1990. "Katsina." p. 2872.

. 5-11 November 1990. "Boost For Open Ballot." p. 2792.

. 29 October-4 November 1990. "Fairer Elections." p. 2751.

Le Monde. 30 March 1991. "Nigeria: Plus de Vote Secret."

Reuters. 5 April 1991. John Owen-Davies. "Old Political Habits Die Hard in Nigeria."

Embassy of Nigeria in Ottawa. 17 July 1991. Telephone interview with a representative.
Attachments

West Africa. 5-11 November 1990. Olugbenga Ayeni. "Open
Ballot Controversy."

.3-9 December. "Open Ballot System May Be Extended."

. 26 November-2 December 1990. "Election Day Plan."

. 19-25 November 1990. "Katsina."

. 5-11 November 1990. "Boost For Open Ballot."

. 29 October-4 November 1990. "Fairer Elections."

. 8-14 October 1990. "NEC Screening Deadline."

. 24-30 September 1990. "Parties Free to Campaign."

. 22-28 October 1990. "Elections Guidelines Released."