US top official visits INEC, says they’ve no preferred candidate

The United States has no preferred candidate in Nigeria’s forthcoming elections, its Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ms Molly Phee, has declared.

Phee stated this when she visited the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu in his office on Monday in Abuja.

She expressed confidence that the general elections would be hitch-free and successful.

She said, “Democracies are exciting experiments in human governance. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rich or poor, whether you live in a city or the countryside, what your religion is, what your nationality is.

“Every single vote counts and Nigerians should have confidence in their electoral process. Thanks to the excellent work of INEC.

“We are honoured to be here to see you today. We are proud of our contribution to technical assistance to help you meet the challenges of conducting such a large election. It is such a large and diverse country.

“We, like your other international partners, are confident that you will succeed,” she said.

Phee said although the US had no preferred candidate in the election, it would back the processes toward a credible poll.

She said the US highly valued its partnership with Nigeria.

“We are both a diverse democracy and we want to encourage a successful election that is free and fair and peaceful, and I’m happy to say that I have great confidence that you will have a successful election.

“Since 1999, Nigeria has been moving up in solidifying and consolidating its democratic trajectory.

“And now, with INEC under the leadership of the chairman, and the support of his superb team, all Nigerians can have confidence in the integrity of the upcoming election,” she said.