The European Union (EU) has warned that next month's general election might not be held in parts of Nigeria due to a hostile “security climate”.

Rudolf Elbling, the team leader of the EU's Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria said the situation could create “a lot of legal implications for the entire process”.

The same concerns have been expressed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), but the body later backtracked saying it does not plan a postponement.

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu told the BBC earlier this week that the elections will go ahead as planned and that he doesn’t envisage any circumstances that could lead to their postponement.

Spiraling insecurity due to an Islamist insurgency, kidnappings by armed gangs and a violent secession movement in the south-east of the country appear to cast a shadow of fear over the 25 February poll.