Nigeria postpones general election

Nigeria's presidential election didn't take place on Feb 16, as originally scheduled, after an announcement to postpone the ballot to Feb 23.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement five hours before the elections were to commence.

"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," Yakubu said.

The presidential and national assembly elections will be held Saturday next week, while the governorship, state house of assembly and federal capital territory area council elections have been rescheduled for March 9.

Yakubu said the postponement will afford the commission the opportunity to address challenges in maintaining the transparency of the elections.

"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," he said.

Following the announcement, the two main candidates, president Muhammadu Buhari and former vice-president and businessman Atiku Abubakar urged Nigerians to remain calm and be patient.

More than 91 political parties are participating in the general elections, with nearly 70 candidates competing for the top post.

Buhari has vowed to move the country to the next level if elected for another term, while Abubakar has promised to revive the country's economy.

According to the Brookings Institute, about 87 million Nigerians, almost half the country's population, live on less than $1.90 a day, despite the country being the largest oil producer in the continent.

Senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi Gerishon Ikiara said it's critical for Nigeria to hold peaceful elections, noting that it's the second largest economy in Africa.

"We hope that whoever wins will continue recognizing the responsibilities of the country to the African and the global economy," he said.

The next president will be faced with the challenge of uniting the country and fighting corruption, so the country can fully make use of its resources.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn