“I Want To Make It Clear” – US Govt Makes Statement On Having Preferred Candidate Few Days To 2023 Election

The United States government has made a categorical statement denying having any preferred candidate or party in Nigeria’s forthcoming election.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Africa Affairs, Molly Phee who made the clarification on Monday, stated that the only interest her country has in Nigeria’s 2023 elections is how to have a peaceful, free, and fair poll.

Phee stated this on Monday during a meeting with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at his office in Abuja.

The American government official used the opportunity to call on all stakeholders to work together in ensuring a peaceful 2023 election in Nigeria.

She said: ”The United States wants to encourage a successful election that is free, fair and peaceful in Nigeria. I am happy to say that we have great confidence that you will have a successful election.

“Since 1999 Nigeria has been moving up significantly in its democratic journey and with INEC under the leadership of its chairman and support of his staff, all Nigerians have confidence in the integrity of the upcoming election.

“Nigerians should have confidence in their electoral process. We are happy to be here with you today, we are proud of our contributions to helping you meet the challenges of conducting elections in a diverse country.

“I do want to emphasize that every citizen, every stakeholders, every party involved has a responsibility during the elections and after elections to be peaceful. So, it is important to ensure peaceful transfer of power every four years.

“And finally, I do want to make it clear that the US has no favoured candidate or party.”

INEC Has No Candidate

Responding, INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu told the American government official that the commission is entirely focused on delivering a free and fair election.

He reiterated that INEC has no preferred candidate or political party in the forthcoming election.

Yakubu also thanked the United States for supporting the democratic journey in Nigeria.

”The Commission isn’t a political party, we have no candidate in the election. We only focus on the process and the choice ultimately belongs to the people of Nigeria. We are committed to free, fair, credible, inclusive and I must also add verifiable elections in 2023.

“The US understandably is interested in Nigeria’s democracy and Nigeria is also interested in the US democracy. I say this, if US is the largest democracy in the world, which country is second? It is Nigeria. Yes, you have countries like India, Indonesia and other democracies but they run parliamentary democracy, not presidential and with the growth in population of Nigerians, who knows, in the next five years we may overcome the US as the largest presidential democracy in the world.

“So, we are interested in ensuring that we consolidate our democracy because there is no system of government that’s better.”