Nigeria has postponed its February 14 presidential elections due to the increased attacks by Islamist terror group Boko Haram.

Election Commission Chief Attahiru Jega said, the polls were moved to March 28, due to lack of troops available to protect the voters and polling precincts. 

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"The commission cannot lightly wave off the advice of the nation's security chiefs," said Jega.  "Calling people to exercise their democratic rights in a situation where their security cannot be guaranteed is a most onerous responsibility," he added.

The elections for state governors and assemblies set on February 28^th  have also been moved to April 11^th.  The postponement was announced the same day as Benin, Cameroon, Niger, Nigeria and Chad committed to deploy 8,700 troops, police and civilians to join the battle against Boko Haram.

But the opposition calls the postponement a "setback for Nigerian democracy". 

All Progressives Congress (APC) the party challenging the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) is accusing the military of forcing the delay to help in the sitting president's campaign. 

Observers had said, the elections seem to be a tight race between APC's Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

The ruling PDP party meanwhile praised the postponement of the polls, saying it could help the commission as it faces "numerous logistical problems and numerous internal challenges".

The United States for its part expressed its deep disappointment over the delay of the elections.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said, "Political interference with the Independent National Electoral Commission is unacceptable, and it is critical that the government not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process."

Now analysts wonder, whether Nigeria will ever be ready for an election, given that the fight against rebel group Boko Haram is unlikely to end in a few weeks.  Thousands have died since Boko Haram launched its insurgency, while more than a million people have been displaced. 

It has been terrorizing Nigeria since 2009, attacking police, schools, churches and civilians.

Tagsnigeria elections, Boko Haram, presidential polls