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WASHINGTON, Feb 7, 2015 (AFP) - The United States called Friday for Nigeria's presidential elections to be held on time, as the nation's electoral commission weighs a delay over difficulty distributing voter cards.
The US supports "peaceful, free, transparent and credible electoral processes in Nigeria and renews its calls on all candidates, their supporters and Nigerian citizens to reject election-related violence," deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said in a statement.
"The United States also looks to Nigeria to hold these elections on time."
The presidential election is scheduled for February 14.
Harf urged the country's security forces to be impartial so Nigerians can vote "safely and without undue delay."
Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission is scheduled to announce on Saturday if it plans to postpone the polls.
Some politicians have voiced concern over an inability to distribute identification cards to 68.8 million registered voters and unrest in the northeast of the country, where hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by fighting with Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
The main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari told AFP he was expecting a clear victory against incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.
"The United States also looks to Nigeria to hold these elections on time."
The presidential election is scheduled for February 14.
Harf urged the country's security forces to be impartial so Nigerians can vote "safely and without undue delay."
Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission is scheduled to announce on Saturday if it plans to postpone the polls.
Some politicians have voiced concern over an inability to distribute identification cards to 68.8 million registered voters and unrest in the northeast of the country, where hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by fighting with Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
The main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari told AFP he was expecting a clear victory against incumbent Goodluck Jonathan.
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