Attahiru announces postponement Nigeria presidential vote

Breaking News  Graphic Correspondent in Abuja, reports that  the electoral commission in Nigeria has postponed the 14 February presidential election by six weeks over concerns about the security situation. This has been corroborated by the BBC.

Political parties had debated whether it was possible to hold a ballot while militants occupied much of the north-east of the country.

The election will now be held on 28 March instead.

The electoral authorities had resisted all attempts to postpone the vote up until Saturday.

Nigeria’s national security adviser had previously requested a delay to allow more time for voter card distribution.

Electoral officials met political parties on Saturday to canvass their views.

The chairman of Nigeria’s electoral commission, Attahiru Jega, said the six-week delay was unavoidable after he was informed that the military would not be available to help during the election.

Security chiefs advised him that troops would be too busy fighting Boko Haram jihadists in the north-east to assist across the country.

The postponement is a highly contentious move, the BBC’s Will Ross reports from Lagos.

Officials from the main opposition party accuse the military of forcing the electoral commission into the delay to help President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign.

It looks set to be a tight race between the incumbent and the former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, our correspondent says.

The postponement may well increase the tension which is already palpable, he adds.

Courtesy www.graphic.com.gh & BBC

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