LAGOS--US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that peaceful and timely elections were vital in Nigeria, where the country is battling a deadly insurgency by Boko Haram.
"It is absolutely critical that this election can be conducted peacefully. The international community is paying very close attention to this election," he said on a visit to Lagos.
Boko Haram violence in Nigeria's far northeast has raised concerns about the ability to hold the February 14 vote on time but Kerry said it was "imperative that elections happen on time, as scheduled".
AFP
