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| Nigeria postpones presidential vote over security | Nigeria postpones presidential vote over security |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The electoral commission in Nigeria has postponed the 14 February presidential election by six weeks over concerns about the security situation. | The electoral commission in Nigeria has postponed the 14 February presidential election by six weeks over concerns about the security situation. |
| Political parties had debated whether it was possible to hold a ballot while militants occupied much of the north-east of the country. | Political parties had debated whether it was possible to hold a ballot while militants occupied much of the north-east of the country. |
| The election will now be held on 28 March instead. | The election will now be held on 28 March instead. |
| The electoral authorities had resisted all attempts to postpone the vote up until Saturday. | The electoral authorities had resisted all attempts to postpone the vote up until Saturday. |
| Nigeria's national security adviser had previously requested a delay to allow more time for voter card distribution. | Nigeria's national security adviser had previously requested a delay to allow more time for voter card distribution. |
| Electoral officials met political parties on Saturday to canvass their views. | Electoral officials met political parties on Saturday to canvass their views. |
| The chairman of Nigeria's electoral commission, Attahiru Jega, said the six-week delay was unavoidable after he was informed that the military would not be available to help during the election. | The chairman of Nigeria's electoral commission, Attahiru Jega, said the six-week delay was unavoidable after he was informed that the military would not be available to help during the election. |
| Security chiefs advised him that troops would be too busy fighting Boko Haram jihadists in the north-east to assist across the country. | Security chiefs advised him that troops would be too busy fighting Boko Haram jihadists in the north-east to assist across the country. |
| The postponement is a highly contentious move, the BBC's Will Ross reports from Lagos. | The postponement is a highly contentious move, the BBC's Will Ross reports from Lagos. |
| Officials from the main opposition party accuse the military of forcing the electoral commission into the delay to help President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign. | Officials from the main opposition party accuse the military of forcing the electoral commission into the delay to help President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign. |
| It looks set to be a tight race between the incumbent and the former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, our correspondent says. | It looks set to be a tight race between the incumbent and the former military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, our correspondent says. |
| The postponement may well increase the tension which is already palpable, he adds. | The postponement may well increase the tension which is already palpable, he adds. |
| Where candidates stand on key election issues | |
| While the personalities of the two main candidates have been at the forefront of this election campaign, certain key issues - namely insecurity, elite corruption among high-profile politicians and business leaders and the state of the economy - have become increasingly important to voters. | |
| Profile: Goodluck Jonathan | |
| Profile: Muhammadu Buhari | |
| Thousands of people have died as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency, while more than a million people have been displaced over the past six years. | |
| The militants control a large stretch of land in north-eastern Nigeria but have also started attacking neighbouring countries. | |
| On Saturday witnesses reported that the group had attacked a town in Niger for the first time. | |
| What is your reaction to the postponement of the presidential election? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experience. | |
| Please include a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | |
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