World Latest News Wires Nigeria postpones elections, focuses on major offensive against Boko Haram

[Valin]

CSM/AP:

Nigeria's electoral commission announced it will postpone elections for six weeks as a multinational force from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Benin, and Niger attempt to secure a large swath of northeast land from Boko Haram.

Michelle Faul

February 7, 2015

 

Dakar, Senegal — 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 told The Associated Press on Saturday.

 

Millions could be disenfranchised if next week's 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.

 

Civil rights groups staged a small protest Saturday against any proposed postponement. Police prevented them from entering the electoral commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Armed police blocked roads leading to the building.

 

(Snip)

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Note President Goodluck Jonathan is in a close race with Muhammadu Buhari. If he were to lose this would be a 1st in modern Nigerian history. What a coincidence!