Nigeria's president blocks electoral reform bill

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday refused to sign off on plans to overhaul the country's electoral laws, judging that new rules would cause "disruption and confusion" so close to an election.

Africa's most populous nation goes to the polls to elect a new president and parliament on February 16. Governorship and state house of assembly elections will be held two weeks later.

Buhari, who is seeking re-election, said he was "concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process... could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation".

Parliament has passed the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 and has been awaiting presidential assent in the hope it would be introduced before polling day.

But Buhari said: "Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process."