Candidates denounce 1-week delay of Nigerian election

KANO, Nigeria — Nigeria’s top candidates on Saturday condemned the surprise last-minute decision to delay the presidential election for a week until Feb. 23, blaming each other but appealing to Africa’s largest democracy for calm.

The decision, announced five hours before polls were to open, is a costly one, with analysts at SBM Intelligence estimating an economic hit of $2 billion. Authorities now must decide what to do with already delivered voting materials. Some electoral facilities have been torched in recent days.

Electoral commission chairman Mahmood Yakubu told observers, diplomats and others that the delay had nothing to do with insecurity or political influence.

The Feb. 23 election date is final, he said.