The United States has once again, voiced its concerns following Nigeria’s controversial February 25th presidential election, saying Nigerians have they felt cheated by the electoral process,but noted that it is important that the right channels are followed to address grievances.
The US said this in a statement on Sunday, through its Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard. She said many citizens are angry and frustrated with the results, while some others are celebrating victories they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.
“It is clear that the electoral process as a whole on February 25 failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations,” the US Ambassador stated.
“As I said numerous times prior to the elections, Nigeria has accomplished much in just the two-plus decades since the return to democracy, and a gradual improvement in the quality of its elections in that time constitutes one of those accomplishments.
“The people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on February 25, but there are many angry and frustrated Nigerians as well as many who are celebrating victories they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.
“In the coming days, it will be important for the future of this country that Nigerians not let their differences divide them, and that the legally established process for resolving challenges to the election be allowed to take its course.”
The last presidential election saw Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged winner of the election after polling 8,794,726 votes, while candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi, both got 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 votes respectively.
Both Atiku and Obi have rejected the outcome of the election, vowing to reclaim their stolen mandates.
Source: National Pivot
