Nigeria postponing elections amid Boko Haram violence
8 Feb 2015 12:56 AM GMT
Nigeria’s electoral commission will postpone February 14 presidential and legislative elections for six weeks to give a new multinational force time to secure northeastern areas under the sway of Boko Haram, an official close to the commission said on Friday.
Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large swath of the northeast and commit mayhem that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes. The Nigerian official, who is knowledgeable of the discussions, told AP that the Independent National Electoral Commission will announce the postponement later today. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a dozen towns in the past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by more countries are planned.
Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large swath of the northeast and commit mayhem that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes. The Nigerian official, who is knowledgeable of the discussions, told AP that the Independent National Electoral Commission will announce the postponement later today. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a dozen towns in the past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by more countries are planned.
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