Blasts Heard in Northeastern Nigerian Town Hours Before Elections - Reports

Blasts have reportedly rocked two Nigerian cities two hours before election polls were due to open on 23 February, as Nigerians are slated to elect a new president, vice president, and members of the bicameral National Assembly.

Alleged terrorists have attacked a northeastern Nigerian town, causing people to flee hours before the start of the elections, Reuters reported citing witnesses.

The newspaper The Nation also reported that the Boko Haram terrorist organisation had launched an attack in the town of Geidem, in the northeast of the country, forcing local residents to flee from the area to neighbouring communities.

Blasts have also reportedly been heard in Maiduguri, the capital of the state of Borno.

According to The Nation newspaper, residents of Maiduguri are currently in a panic over a series of explosions that have rocked the city all within a ten-minute span starting at 5 a.m. local time (4 a.m. GMT).

There is currently no information about possible victims of the attacks.

READ MORE: Truck Rams Into Market in Western Nigeria Killing Over 20 People — Reports

The election in Nigeria this year includes over 70 candidates running for president. The front-runners are incumbent Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main challenger Atiku Abubakar representing the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).

To secure a first-round victory, a candidate must receive a majority of the overall vote, as well as over 25 percent of the vote in at least 24 of the country's 36 states.