[ 2015-02-08 ]

Nigeria postpones presidential vote over security
Nigeria has postponed its 14 February presidential
election by six weeks because of security fears.

Election commission chief Attahiru Jega said the
delay until 28 March was necessary because of a
lack of troops available to protect voters.

Nigeria's military has been battling an insurgency
by Boko Haram militants in the north-east of the
country.

The opposition described the delay as a "setback
for Nigerian democracy".


Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, from the
All Progressives Congress (APC) is challenging
incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, who heads
the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Correspondents say it looks set to be a tight race
between the two.

'Unacceptable'

Mr Jega announced the delay late on Saturday.

He said it was necessary as he had been told that
troops would not be available to help patrol the
vote as they were too busy conducting operations
against Boko Haram.

"The commission cannot lightly wave off the advice
of the nation's security chiefs," said Mr Jega.

"Calling people to exercise their democratic
rights in a situation where their security cannot
be guaranteed is a most onerous responsibility."

However, officials from the APC accuse the
military of forcing the electoral commission into
the delay to help the sitting president's
campaign.

APC chairman John Odigie-Oyegun said the "highly
provocative" move was a "major setback for
Nigerian democracy".

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry said
the US was "deeply disappointed".

"Political interference with the Independent
National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and
it is critical that the government not use
security concerns as a pretext for impeding the
democratic process," he said.

The ruling PDP party praised the postponement, and
said the commission was facing "numerous
logistical problems and numerous internal
challenges", AP news agency reported.

Source - BBC

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