Nigeria's Electoral Watchdog Postpones Presidential Vote For 1 Week For February 23

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday rescheduled the country's presidential election for a week, just hours before the scheduled opening of polling stations, citing the need to tackle the existing challenges for maintaining the quality of the vote

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th February, 2019) Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday rescheduled the country's presidential election for a week, just hours before the scheduled opening of polling stations, citing the need to tackle the existing challenges for maintaining the quality of the vote.

"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 as scheduled is no longer feasible. Consequently, the commission has decided to reschedule the Presidential and National Assembly elections to Saturday, 23 February 2019.... This will afford the commission the opportunity to address identified challenges in order to maintain the quality of our elections," the INEC said in a statement.

The commission added that the governor elections and elections to the Federal Capital Territory Area Council and the State House of Assembly had been rescheduled for March 9 from March 2.

The INEC added that postponing the vote was needed for the "successful delivery of the elections and the consolidation of our democracy."

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari is running in the presidential election, while opposition figure Atiku Abubakar is also seeking to win the race.

Nigeria has previously rescheduled polls, citing various logistics issues and security concerns. However, the opposition has suggested that this year, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, which Buhari represents, is seeking to manipulate the vote.