Nigeria's electoral commission will postpone February 14 presidential elections for six weeks to give a new multinational force time to secure areas under the sway of Boko Haram, an official says.
Millions could be disenfranchised if the voting went ahead while the Islamic extremists hold a large swath of the northeast and commit mayhem that has driven 1.5 million people from their homes.
A major offensive with warplanes and ground troops from Chad and Nigeria already has forced the insurgents from a dozen towns and cities in the past 10 days.
An electoral official knowledgeable about discussions by the Independent National Electoral Commission says the commission will announce the postponement later on Saturday.
Officials in President Goodluck Jonathan's administration had been calling for a postponement, which is opposed by an opposition coalition fielding his chief rival, former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari.
