Comment 5 for bug 884945

This appears to be the same issue as bug 831768. Short version: multiarch support, enabled by default in Ubuntu 11.10, causes each architecture of a package to have an entry in the package database. Aptitude is not multiarch aware and displays one at random. It appears that at least a decent workaround might be in place for Precise, but no hope for Oneiric.

Not marking as duplicate because to the best of my limited launchpad knowledge, this one would then be hidden - and anyone searching for symptoms related to package states or searching would be hard pressed to stumble upon 831768.