BOKO HARAM CANT STOP NIGERIA ELECTIONS

ECOWAS Chairman, President John Mahama has
served notice that despite the increasing attacks
by Boko Haram, the February 14 presidential
election in Nigeria will come off as scheduled.
Islamist militant group, Boko Haram has
intensified their attacks on Nigerian citizens
resulting in the death of thousands and the
abduction of hundreds.
Many have urged the Nigerian authorities to call
off the elections but President Mahama is of the
view that doing so would mean victory for Boko
Haram. “Nigeria cannot delay those elections
because of Boko Haram. It would have given
Boko Haram a victory they don’t deserve,” he
said.
Addressing a news conference in Accra over the
weekend, President Mahama said ECOWAS Heads
of State have put measures in place to ensure
that the election comes off uninterrupted.
He mentioned that ECOWAS is constantly in touch
with the Nigerian authorities and the Electoral
Commission to ensure that the elections are
successful.
The ECOWAS Chair stressed that “the elections
must go forward and all efforts are being done
to ensure the elections take place.
The elections will take place and as many
Nigerians as possible will have the opportunity to
vote.”
He disclosed that various international
monitoring groups will take part by observing the
Nigerian elections.
Also, ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the
United Nations (UN) are keenly “following the
issues and are in touch with both the authorities
and the Electoral Commission to make sure the
elections are held on schedule and are free and
fair.”
Former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi
Annan has called for a peaceful elections in
Nigeria.
Kofi Annan made the call when he, the Nigerian
President Goodluck Jonathan, former President
General Muhammadu Buhari and nine other
presidential candidates adopted an inter-party
agreement on non-violence and the acceptance
of the results of the upcoming elections on 14
and 28 February.