General elections in Nigeria originally scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, 2015 may have been shifted for 6 weeks by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC was said to have reached the decision to postpone the 2015 General Elections at a stakeholders meeting held today, February 7, The Associated Press reports.
An official close to the commission told The Associated Press that INEC had decided to postpone the election for six weeks due to the threat posed by Boko Haram.
The source added that the poll shift would allow extra time for a newly constituted multinational force to secure the North-East which is currently being plagued by Boko Haram attacks.
It would also enable the commission continue distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to citizens to prevent mass disenfranchisement.
Chairman of the commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is to address a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja today by 5pm. to make an official announcement.
But Attahiru Jega’s spokesperson, Kayode Idowu, spoke to Premium Times saying his Commission was still in a consultative meeting with the leadership of the 28 political parties at this moment.
Asked to confirm if the elections had been postponed as reported by some media organisations, Mr. Idowu said, “Nothing like that has been decided by INEC yet.”