Nigeria delays elections over Boko Haram threat

The Nigerian government has postponed elections amid attempts to reclaim large swathes of the north-east of the country from the extremist Islamic insurgent group Boko Haram.

A Nigerian official told Associated Press that voting, scheduled to go ahead on 14 February, would be postponed for six weeks to allow a new multinational force the opportunity to secure land under the control of the terrorist group.

An estimated 1.5 million could be disenfranchised should voting go ahead while the Islamists hold territory in the north-east.

The run-up to elections has already been marred by violence within the country.
READ MORE: Boko Haram attacks Maiduguri again
Fears of massacre as Boko Haram insurgency continues

On 3 February clashes between supporters of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan and challenger Muhammadu Buhari left eight dead.

President Jonathan has faced increasing criticism over his perceived impotency in the face of the extremist threat.

Yesterday, US intelligence officials estimated that Boko Haram – who declared an Islamic Caliphate over territory stretching across parts of Nigeria and her neighbour’s borders – may have as many as 4,000 to 6,000 “hardcore” fighters

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/nigeria-delays-elections-over-boko-haram-threat-10030696.html


abc news is reporting same story

Official: Nigeria Postponing Feb. 14 Elections So Multinational Force Secures Boko Haram Areas
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/official-nigeria-postponing-feb-14-elections-multinational-force-28794963

First person to comment

he must be joking!

An estimated 1.5 million could be
disenfranchised should voting go ahead
while the Islamists hold territory in the
north-east.
The run-up to elections has already
been marred by violence within the
country.

postponing the election as a result of insurgence is a very lame excuse.
The insugency they couldn't win the war against since 2011 will now be won within 11weeks of postponement under this same administration.

If this is true, it may have been a good decision considering the fact that INEC is yet to effectively distribute PVCs but again it shows inefficient we are as a people not being able to organise election in 4 yrs. Very sad.

nawa for this people.....

They should postpone it indefinitely, so that GEJ can rule till 2019 after then an election can be conducted.