Nigerian election bombing kills 11

LAGOS, Nigeria, April 9 (UPI) -- The first of three Saturday elections in Nigeria was marred by a bombing that killed 11 people and badly injured 26 others, The Nation reported from Lagos.

The blast happened at offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the city of Suleja Friday evening, hours before polls were to open to elect 360 house representatives and 109 senators, the newspaper said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, police said. Voting in the city was postponed.

The country's elections are already a week behind schedule. Voting was canceled last weekend when officials said an unidentified supplier hadn't delivered necessary voting materials in some parts of the country.

Next Saturday, polls will open for a presidential vote and a week later, voters will choose state governors and regional officials, CNN said.

The Human Rights Watch group has said at least 85 people have been killed in political violence in Nigeria so far this year.

President Goodluck Jonathan's People's Democratic Party is fighting to maintain its house majority, although polls suggest Jonathan is expected to be re-elected, the BBC said.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and has 73.5 million registered voters.