by Isi Esene

The February 14 Presidential elections have been postponed to March 28, 2015.

This information was made public by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) moments ago at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, says that the election was postponed because all the security agencies in the country have expressed to him, in writing, that they cannot be available to support the elections if it holds on February 14.

This decision was made after several hours of meetings chaired by Jega on charting a way forward as regards organising a free, fair,and violence free elections.

Jega gave reasons for the postponement saying: “There are several things needed to conduct a credible election. Some are within the control of the elections but others are not. One of the things not in our control is security.”

He continued saying, “It has become pertinent to consider the security situation in the country. INEC is a election organising commission, not a security organisation.

“We have done wide-ranging consultations before taking our decision. The presidential elections will now hold on March 28, while the state elections will hold on April 11, 2015.”

He appealed for peace and assured that the decision was “taken in good faith and best interest of deepening democracy.”

A leading African election expert and senior fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDD, in Abuja, Jibrin Ibrahim, who was at the meeting, disclosed that Jega, during the meeting stated that security operatives from all the nation’s agencies informed the commission that they were commencing a six weeks special operations against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and an election would only be a distraction.

We shall bring you more details as soon as we get them.

Kolapo Olapoju