The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the scheduled governorship election in Adamawa State over perceived security concerns.
INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, in a statement circulated to newsmen in Abuja, said that the governorship election will hold on Saturday, January 21, 2012, instead of January 14, 2012 as earlier scheduled.
Recently, the State in the northeast of the country, has experienced sustained attacks by Nigeria’s radical Islamist sect, Boko Haram, heightening fears of a full blown sectarian conflict.
Gunmen suspected to be members of the radical sect opened fire in a hall in Mubi where a group of Christians had gathered to mourn the deaths of some of their members killed in a previous attack.
In a separate incident, gunmen attacked a Church in the State capital, Yola, killing 11 worshippers.
Jega said that the decision was reached after consultations with relevant stakeholders in the State.