West criticises Nigerian election delay

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/08/nigeria-election-delay-west-us-uk

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International powers have expressed concern at the postponement of Nigeria’s election until the end of March, with Washington warning that the government should not use precarious security as a reason for stalling on democracy.

The election authorities announced at the weekend that the polls would be put back from 14 February to 28 March, after security officials said the military had too much on its plate with the militant group Boko Haram to be able to police a ballot.

John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said America was “deeply disappointed” by the decision, and added: “It is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process. The international community will be watching closely as the Nigerian government prepares for elections on the newly scheduled dates.”

Philip Hammond, Britain’s foreign secretary, said the postponement was cause for concern. “The security situation should not be used as a reason to deny the Nigerian people from exercising their democratic rights. It is vital that the elections are kept on track and held as soon as possible.”

Nigeria is grappling with an increasingly brutal six-year insurgency by Boko Haram, which has kidnapped and murdered its way across the country’s north-east, seizing territory and mounting raids into Chad, Cameroon and Niger. In its stronghold, hundreds of thousands of people risk being unable to vote.

But some observers have said the election delay has political undertones, as the incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, faces an increasingly strong election challenge from ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari’s All Progressives Congress called the delay “highly provocative” and “a major setback for democracy”.

The UN secretary general, Ban Ki‑moon, urged officials to take all necessary measures to enable Nigerians to vote “in a timely manner”, including rapid distribution of voter cards. “This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election,” his spokesman said.

Jibrin Ibrahim, a political analyst with the Centre for Democracy and Development, said Nigeria’s security agencies had forced the delay on “frivolous” grounds. “They say they need six weeks to defeat Boko Haram. Boko Haram has been growing for six years … If in six weeks Boko Haram has not been defeated, they could call for another delay and ultimately destroy Nigerian democracy,” he said.