Nigeria Election 2019: Voting Postponed For a Week

By Staff, Agencies

Presidential and parliamentary elections in Nigeria have been delayed for a week.

The announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] was made just five hours before the polls were due to open on Saturday.

"Proceeding with the election as scheduled is no longer feasible," commission chairman Mahmood Yakubu said, citing logistical issues.

He said the difficult decision was needed to ensure a free and fair vote.

The votes have been rescheduled for Saturday 23 February.

Governorship, state assembly and federal area council elections have been rescheduled until Saturday 9 March.

It came after an emergency meeting at the INEC headquarters in the capital, Abuja.

Nigeria's two main political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress [APC] and the People's Democratic Party [PDP], swiftly condemned the move and accused each other of trying to manipulate the vote.