The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, has expressed her disappointment with the outcome of Nigeria’s presidential polls held on February 25, stating that they did not meet the expectations of the citizens.
Leonard acknowledged that many Nigerians are frustrated with the outcome but commended them for their dedication to democracy.
In an op-ed titled ‘The Elections of February 25,’ Leonard urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the challenges that can be resolved ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections and to undertake a broader review of the problems that transpired during the last elections.
The US Ambassador also called on INEC to share information about the actions it is taking with the Nigerian public.
The commitment of Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar to contest the presidential elections through legal means was praised by Leonard, who also commended Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, for recognizing their right to do so.
It was emphasized that it is crucial to permit the legally established process for resolving election challenges to run its course, and not allow any differences to create division.
Leonard noted that the Nigerian electoral landscape is changing, with the winning candidate representing a different party than that of the incumbent governor in more than half of the states.
For the first time, four presidential candidates won at least one state, and the top three each won 12 states based on initial results. In the National Assembly elections, changes are already afoot with seven sitting governors losing in their attempts to win election to the Assembly.
The ambassador assured Nigerians that the United States stands with them as they go through the next weeks and months. She believes that ending an electoral process in a courtroom can be unsatisfying, but in a constitutional democracy bound by the rule of law, that is where electoral conflicts may appropriately conclude.