…Says only election counted by INEC that matters
The United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard has reiterated her country’s plan to slam visa ban on anyone who tries to scuttle Nigeria’s democratic process in the coming general election.
Beth Leonard said US has confidence in the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fre, fair and credible election come February and March.
Besides, she said that the only election that matters is the one that INEC counts.
Leonard spoke yesterday in Abuja at the One Day Multi-Stakeholders Dialogue on ‘Nigeria’s 2023 Election: Fostering Youth Action for Peace and Stability’ organised by National Orientation Agency and building blocks for Peace Foundation.
She said that election results are not foretold so candidates should expect to either win or lose in an election.
The ambassador therefore warned that no group or individual should announce any result outside INEC.
She also urged political parties and candidates to accept the results of the polls.
“United States has full confidence in INEC’s ability to organise and conduct credible and transparent elections. We saw INEC capabilities on display during the recent political run off and off cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun and we look forward to seeing that success extended nationwide during the February and March general elections.”
She also said that the 2022 Electoral Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari boosted her confidence in the country’s electoral process.
“This key legislation has strengthened Nigeria’s electoral system for example, through the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS for voter accreditation, and the electronic transmission of results. These are proven methods to improve transparency and drastically reduce the potential for vote tampering,” she said.
While noting that the US stands firm with Nigeria’s voters’ demand for transparency and electoral integrity, she reiterated that “Individuals who undercut or who undermine the political process, including through intimidation or violence, may be found ineligible for a visa to travel to the United States.
We have chosen in the past to impose US visa restriction on anyone undermining the electoral process.
“We will surely deny or cancel visas for those who truly try to undermine this coming election.
“Our visa record is confidential and we would not be able to announce the identity of those subject to be sanctioned.
“But I can tell you that I am personally aware of people who are travelling to the US who have been or will be blocked on this grouse.”
She also urged Nigerians to speak out against use of violence or electoral rhetoric.
“Politicians and candidates have every right to challenge their stand on issues but the use of inflammatory report and intimidation and irresponsible incitement to violence is extremely harmful to the country and to public faith in elections,” she added.
She also warned candidates and their supporters against making ‘rash predictions of victory or instantly claiming fraud if they lose at the ballot box. Candidates and parties that seek to run for public office must accept one fundamental truth : that losing is always possible. If a candidate is not willing to accept the possibility that he or she might be defeated, the person should not be running for office in the first place. And there is no true democratic election in which the outcome is foretold.
Citing cases in the USA where the pre-election poll had favoured a particular candidate only for the person to fail at the poll.
“In the US for example, we see numerous contexts in which a particular candidate seems certain to win based on popular pre-election data polls only for the votes to prove otherwise.
“In many political races, voting outcomes are really touchy and unexpected can happen on election day.
Everyone needs to remember that the only poll that really matters is the one that INEC will count in February and March.”
The US Ambassador also commended the role being played by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar led National Peace Committee, which she said has helped in strengthening democracy.
She therefore urged candidates and their parties to keep to their pledge of peaceful campaign devoid of hate speeches and violence.
” We hope that the political parties will adhere to the peace accord of September 29 2022. The candidates would soon have another round table to affirm their commitment to the democratic process by signing to the peace accord and accepting the results.”
She also charged the youth of the country to take full advantage of their population, which is 70% of the entire national population.
She said, ” it is critical for every eligible young person across Nigeria to vote and make your voice heard on election day. You deserve to be confident that your vote will matter and will be counted accurately and in a transparent process. And above all, you have a fundamental stake in the outcome of an election that will shape policies and governance in Nigeria for years to come. With that in mind, let me recall the remarks of President Biden at the December 2021 summit for democracy. He said that democracy is hard and must be renewed at every step. That is why the United States as a member of a global community for democracy invested in supporting other democratic nations. Nigeria, we stand with you as you approach this important election. And we look forward to continued partnership with the Nigerian people and with the next administration.”
The DG of NOA, Dr. Graba Abari in his remarks urged Nigerian youth to shun violence and not to allow themselves to be used as thugs in the coming elections.
He said, the election presents us the opportunity to set the nation on the path of prosperity and progress.
The meeting he said was designed to bring together several stakeholders including the electoral body, CSO, youth, security agencies, media, religious leaders and academia to interrogate and collect preparedness for 2023 general elections and to collaboratively identify ways to ensure peaceful electoral process.
In his welcome address, Rafiu Lawal, Executive Director, Building Blocks for Peace Foundation charged the youth on the need to be positively involved in the country’s electoral process.
