Nigerian voters have expressed disappointment at the postponement of the presidential election by the electoral body on Saturday.
Nigeria: Voters in Jos disappointed with elections postponement
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), early on Saturday shifted the elections until February 23 adding a scheduled proceeding of the vote was not “feasible.”
Across the country, many voters were unaware of the sudden postponement.
In Jos city , capital of Plateau state central Nigeria, people came out as early as 6 am to cast their ballots only to find out the election was not taking place as planned.
“I don’t know that they canceled the election. I came out of my house with my PVC to go and vote. All of a sudden, and I heard that they cancel election,” A Resident.
“People traveled from here to different places, different states to go on and cast the votes, and just of a sudden, they wake up to tell us that the election has been postponed. It sucked,” Another Resident.
“And it is a great setback to our economy, imagine the whole day has been canceled, no transaction, nothing,” Another Resident.
NIGERIA ELECTIONS – Voters react angrily to last-minute delay to general elections in Nigeria https://t.co/JPoz9XaEuj— Nicolay Abril (@NicolayAbril) February 16, 2019
INEC insisted the postponement is necessary to ensure a free and fair vote.
The west African country postponed presidential elections in 2011 and 2015 over logistics and security concerns.