Nigeria postpones presidential vote as Boko Haram attacks intensify

Nigeria's electoral commission has announced that the country will hold elections on March 28, six weeks later than planned, following a rise in attacks by Boko Haram in the north.

Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said late on Saturday that security chiefs advised a postponement as troops would not be available because of operations against the armed group.

"If the security of personnel, voters, election observers and election material cannot be guaranteed, the lives of innocent young men and women and the prospect of free, fair and credible elections will be greatly jeopardised," Jega said.

The decision came following a closed-door meeting in Abuja between INEC, the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), its main contender, the All Progressive Congress (APC), and other opposition parties.

Postponement disputed

Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan's administration have been calling for a postponement amid continuing violence as the country battles Boko Haram.

However, civil rights groups, opposition political parties, and Western countries opposed a later election date.

Protesters had gathered outside the electoral commission headquarters in the capital, Abuja, for days, calling for elections to go ahead as planned.

"Civil society organisations are calling for the resignation of the election chair and Nigeria's security chiefs over the postponement of the election, but that is unlikely to happen," said Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the city.

"Nigeria's security services have failed to defeat Boko Haram in five years. Some are asking how will they do it in six weeks, and whether there is another motive behind the delay."

The incumbent has been locked in a tight race with former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

APC national chairman John Odigie-Oyegun called the delay "a major setback for Nigerian democracy" and "highly provocative".

But he added: "I strongly appeal to all Nigerians to remain calm and desist from violence and any activity which will compound this unfortunate development."

Security boosted

Nigeria and its four neighbouring nations on Saturday pledged to deploy 8,700 troops, police and civilians as part of a regional effort to fight Boko Haram.

"The representatives of Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad have announced contributions totalling 8,700 military personnel, police and civilians," the countries said in a statement after a meeting in Cameroon's capital Yaounde

Boko Haram's attacks have increasingly spilled over from Nigeria into neighbouring nations.

Their first major assault in Niger on Friday triggered a forceful response from Chadian and Nigerien troops.

Niger's defence minister reported that 109 fighters were killed in the fighting, along with four soldiers and a civilian. Seventeen other troops were wounded.

Chad already has troops fighting Boko Haram on two fronts, with soldiers deployed in Niger and Nigeria.