United States Says They Will Not Favour Any Political Candidate
Following the 2023 general elections, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, has disclosed that the United States does not have any preferred candidate and does not have any plans towards favoring any candidate in the elections.
According to the diplomat, the United States looks forward to witnessing and supporting a fair, free, and transparent election in Nigeria. Leonard made this known through a one-day multi-stakeholders dialogue entitled ” Nigeria’s 2023 elections: Fostering Youth Action for Peace and Stability”, held in Abuja.
The one-day multi-stakeholders dialogue program was organized in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, NOA, and the Building Blocks for Peace Foundation aimed to foster and mobilize youths toward the success of the forthcoming general elections.
The ambassador also stressed that the 2023 forthcoming general elections are a greater opportunity for all Nigerians to exercise their franchise and prove to other African countries that it is the giant of Africa and set an example worth emulation.
As the most recognized and legitimate way of transferring political power, Mary Leonard made it known that the United States would only support credible elections conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. She pinpointed that no candidate would be favored, as only transparent,.credible, and peaceful elections would be supported and accepted.
The ambassador who expressed satisfaction with the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the Osun and Ekiti States off-cycle recent elections, says they expect INEC to display and extend the same effort in the forthcoming general elections which is fast approaching.
In the same vein, Dr. Garba Abari, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, urged Nigerian youths to refrain from hateful and abusive speeches regarding the elections and the electoral candidate and they should not allow any political aspirant to use them as an object of violence during the general elections.
As the 2023 general elections are just around the corner, the United States looks unto the Independent National Electoral Commission with confidence as they expect transparent, credible, fair, and hitch-free general elections.
