<span style="color: #222222;">In Nigeria, politicians and voters across the country expressed disappointment and dismay today after a national election was postponed hours before polls were due to open. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">One opposition leader called the move a dangerous ploy to keep President Muhammadu Buhari in power. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Buhari urged Nigerians to remain calm and to refrain from civil disorder. In a statement he said that he is deeply disappointed by the delay.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, told reporters in the early hours today that the one-week delay is needed to hold a free and fair election. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He said the commission came to the conclusion that proceeding with the election as scheduled is no longer feasible. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Consequently, the commissioners decided to reschedule the presidential and national assembly elections to 23rd of February.</span><br />''