Why Election will not Hold Feb 14 - Jega

Mr. Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, has concluded a briefing meeting with 25 civil society groups in Abuja Saturday informing them that all security agencies in the country have indicated to him, in writing, that they are not available to support the elections planned for February 14.

Mr. Jega who had an earlier meeting with political parties is rounding up another meeting with his 36 resident commissioners now on what will amount to an INEC position on whether to postpone or go ahead with the elections.

Mr. Jega was said to have told the meeting that security operatives from all the agencies told INEC that they were commencing a six weeks special operations against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and would rather not be distracted by the elections.

Mr. Jega announced that the security forces also said the operations are due to commence on February 14, the date INEC had planned for the presidential and other federal elections. This decision, by the security forces, successfully renders INEC’s hitherto insistence to go ahead with the elections a risky venture. To even collect ballot papers from their storage in the Central bank for the elections will still require security escort, which apparently is now unavailable in the light of the move by the security forces.

So in summary, Nigeria's electoral commission on Saturday announced a six-week postponement to the presidential elections, citing fears over security and the Boko Haram insurgency. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION POSTPONED TILL MARCH 28TH WHILE GUBERNATORIAL AND OTHERS SHIFTED TO APRIL 11...it is well!