Nigeria's knife-edge presidential elections were thrown into increasing doubt on Saturday, as the country's electoral commission met in Abuja to discuss a minimum six-week delay to voting.

Nigeria plans to postpone its elections from February 14 to March 28. Separate elections of governors and assemblies of states making up the Nigerian federation could be moved from February 28 to April 11, the German news agency dpa reported.

Postponement criticized by the opposition

There has been pressure on the electoral body to delay the election to give the army time to secure northeastern areas under the control of the Islamist group Boko Haram, whose presence would prevent many people from voting.

The postponement has been seen by critics as a ploy by President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDM) to buy time to sway support from the popular main opposition candidate and former military dictator, Muhammadu Buhari.

The talks about postponement came after a recommendation from national security advisor Sambo Dasuki. PDM party chairman Bashir Yusuf said Dasuki had told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that operations against Boko Haram militants meant the military "will be unable to provide adequate security" for the February 14 vote.

The US has been urging Nigeria to press ahead with the voting. US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Nigeria two weeks ago and said that "one of the best ways to fight back against Boko Haram" was by holding credible and peaceful elections, on time.

Insecurity created by Boko Haram

The dynamics of the Boko Haram conflict have changed rapidly over the last 10 days. Neighbouring Chad, which boasts one of the strongest armies in the region, has joined the fight. Nigeria and Chad have claimed huge successes this week, but Boko Haram's defeat is hardly imminent. More than one million people have been displaced by the conflict.

Additionally, African Union officials were ending a three-day meeting Saturday in Yaounde, Cameroon's capital, to finalize details of a 7,500-strong force from Nigeria and its neighbors Chad, Cameroon, Benin and Niger.

Contest with former dictator

The deadline for a new government to be installed will be May 29. The election will pit President Goodluck Jonathan against former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari.

Supporters of both sides are threatening violence if their candidate does not win. Some 800 people were killed in riots in the mainly Muslim north after Buhari, a Muslim, lost 2011 elections to Jonathan, a Christian from the South. Elections in 2011 were postponed until April.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and the most populous nation of about 170 million.

ra/rc (dpa, AFP, AP)