Why Nigeria's general elections were postponed

Why Nigeria's general elections were postponed

Nigeria's electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has explained its reasons for postponing the general elections to a few hours to the beginning.

"Following a careful review of the implementation of its logistics and operational plan, and the determination to conduct free, fair, and credible elections, the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the elections is not possible," INEC boss Mahmood Yakubu said at a press briefing on Saturday morning in Abuja.

The general elections are scheduled to begin Saturday, February 16 with the presidential and National Assembly elections.

Yakubu said the presidential and national badembly elections were rescheduled to hold on February 23 while the governorship and state houses of badembly will take place on March 9.

It was not the first time that INEC would postpone a scheduled general election.

In 2015, the presidential election was shifted from February 14 to March 28th, 2015, while the governorship and badembly elections were scheduled for April 28th. The elections were postponed because of security issues.

Similarly, in 2011, the National Assembly elections were postponed on the day of the election. The same situation was repeated in 2019.

Polling centers were published on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. with more than 84 million registered voters across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The postponement may heighten tensions in what has been a tight race between incumbent Muhammadu Buhari President, and his main challenger from the People's Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar. The political parties of both candidates for the vote.

Prior to the election date, INEC offices in three states of the country- Plateau, Abia and recently Anambra, were engulfed by fire outbreaks, all within Nigeria's 2019 general elections.

In the past, the election of Nigeria has had the following effects.

INEC goal reversed the decision. INEC chairman Yakubu said, "This was a difficult decision for the Commission to take, but necessary for the successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy."