Elections in Nigeria postponed for six weeks to help those controlled by Boko Haram to vote
Boko Haram have driven around 1.5 million people from their homes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Millions of people under the grip of Boko Haram could be given the chance to vote in Nigeria as the elections are postponed for six weeks in order to secure northeastern areas from their sway.
The presidential and legislative elections were set for 14 February, however the Nigerian electoral commission will use the extra time to involve disenfranchised people.
Boko Haram have long caused disruption and death in large swathes of the country and a major operation involving warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria has 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 after 1.5 million people have been driven from their homes by the extreme organisation whose name is translated to “western education is forbidden.”
The electoral commission official, who spoke anonymously, said the Independent National Electoral Commission will announce the postponement at a news conference later today.
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.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments