The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cautioned on Monday January 9, that if the country’s present level of insecurity continues, Nigeria’s presidential election, which is scheduled for late February, may be canceled or postponed.
On February 25, Nigerians will elect a new president to replace President Muhammadu Buhari, a former general who is not running for re-election after serving two terms in office and failing to address the country’s serious security issues (violent jihadist insurgency in the north-east, separatist tensions in the south, and rising crime in the north-west and center).
According to Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, one of the INEC’s top officials, “If insecurity is not monitored and reduced, it could lead to the cancellation and/or postponement of the elections in enough constituencies to prevent the announcement of the results”.
Consequently, he argued, this scenario must be avoided at all costs since it could “cause a constitutional crisis”.
He further emphasized that all security forces and election authorities must be prepared to handle “any challenge at any time” in light of the election on February 25.
The Inec is “doing everything possible to ensure that complete security is provided for election staff, materials and processes,” in order for the elections to be a success, he continued.
Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is experiencing a serious economic crisis as well as various security issues.
Local authorities said that on the night of January 7th, gunmen attacked a railway station in the south and kidnapped more than 30 persons, some of whom were later released. Kidnappings occur often in Nigeria, especially in the northwest and central parts of the country.
INEC recently issued a warning about the possibility of increased violence during the election campaign and added that it has recorded at least 50 attacks since the exercise started almost two months ago, some of which targeted its offices.
There are now 18 candidates who are running to succeed President Buhari.
Author-Roberta Appiah
