Credit: Associated Press
Nigeria's electoral commission will
postpone Feb. 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.
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.
A major offensive with warplanes and
ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a
dozen towns and villages in the past 10 days. Even greater military strikes by
more countries are planned.
The official who is knowledgeable of
the discussions said the Independent National Electoral Commission will
announce the postponement at a news conference later Saturday. He spoke on
condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Officials in President Goodluck
Jonathan's administration had been calling for a postponement, which is opposed
by an opposition coalition fielding his chief rival, former military dictator
Muhammadu Buhari.
Supporters of both sides are
threatening violence if their candidate does not win. Some 800 people were
killed in riots in the mainly Muslim north after Buhari, a Muslim, lost 2011
elections to Jonathan, a Christian from the south.
A postponement also will give
electoral officials more time to deliver some 30 million voter cards. The
commission had said the non-delivery of cards to nearly half of the 68.8
million registered voters was not a good reason to delay the vote.
Finally, the primary function of a government is being considered. That is to defend the people and the National integrity of Nigeria.Ii is unfortunate that the action to do that has to come from outside the federal republic of Nigeria.WHO IS BOKO HARAM TO CHALLENGE THE SOVEREIGN NATION OF NIGERIA.
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