ABUJA, Nigeria, April 1 (UPI) -- The only threat to a Nigerian vote during the weekend is "sensational reporting," the country's information and communication minister said.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is the front-runner from the People's Democratic Party. His party has won every national contest since the end of military rule in Nigeria in 1999 and is the favorite in the national contest that starts during the weekend.
Human Rights Watch estimates at least 70 people were killed in violence leading up to the first round of voting scheduled to begin Saturday.
Nigerian election watchdog Nigeria Elections Situations Room was quoted by CNN as saying there was an "unprecedented" level of violence in the country. The violence, the group said, was "the single most significant threat to the conduct of general elections."
Information and Communications Minister Labaran Maku was quoted in Nigeria's Vanguard newspaper as saying the media could help allay security concerns by avoiding sensational reports.
"The only threat we are afraid of is sensational reporting," he said. "In fact, it constitutes more threat to the election than any other form of threat."
Abuja said it was closing its borders ahead of the weekend poll.
