INEC meets with top US gov’t officials ahead of general election
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday, February 13 had a meeting with top officials from the United States (US) government in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
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The US officials include Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Africa Affairs, Molly Phee; and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard as well as other officials of INEC.
The meeting was held hours after Prof. Yakubu met with leaders of the various political parties ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 25 for Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 11, 2023, for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
In her remarks, the US Assistant Secretary of State noted that the forthcoming general election is a “matter to the United States,” because according to her, the US is interested in consolidating democracy, and doing so peacefully.
She also expressed her conviction that the elections would be peacefully conducted and democracy protected, as the country has demonstrated since 1999.
According to News Point, Phee also noted that the US does not have a preferred candidate, and will support the electoral process.
In his remarks, the INEC Chairman said the Commission is interested in consolidating the gains of democracy.
Prof. Yakubu reassured the delegation that the commission is on the right path to conducting the elections as scheduled.
He revealed that 12 out of all 14 pre-election activities in the schedule have been implemented.
