US warns electoral offenders in Nigeria

US warns electoral offenders in Nigeria

The US has warned that it would not hesitate to take appropriate action against individuals seeking to undermine the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria. 

The Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, issued the warning on Thursday in Washington D.C during a briefing on the recent election in Nigeria. 

"We are partners in the international community, and will not hesitate to take appropriate action against individuals of any political party who seek to undermine the integrity of the electoral process."Whether at the state, national or local elections,'' he said. 

Carson was in Nigeria to observe the April 9 National Assembly elections. 
 
The media briefing was his first since he returned to the US capital.
 
He said: "Following the deplorable post-election violence of the previous week, we are heartened that many Nigerian voters went to the polls to vote in an environment largely free of violence.”
 
He expressed concern about allegations of fraud and ballot box snatching in various jurisdictions, and strongly urged Nigerian authorities to investigate and take corrective actions on all the allegations.
 
Commendation

Carson commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and especially its chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, and the security services for addressing challenges and improving their efforts with each progressive election.
 
“We are confident that INEC leaders will continue to take steps to further improve the electoral process, to ensure that some political actors do not revert to their old ways of subverting the will of the Nigerian electorate," Carson said. 
  
New trend

The top US diplomat for Africa said that despite the post-election violence and some voting irregularities, the elections marked a new trend for Nigeria.
 
In his words: “Nigeria has just completed its most successful election since its return to multiparty democracy in 1999.
 
“Despite some technical imperfections, those elections represent a substantial improvement over the flawed 2007 electoral process.”
 
He said that the election reversed a downward democratic trajectory and provides Nigeria a solid foundation for strengthening its electoral procedures and democratic institutions in the years to come.
  
Carson stressed that he did not believe that any of the irregularities or technical imperfections undermined the overall outcome of the election.

He maintained that the elections reflected the will of a majority of the Nigerian people.
 
Lesson to African nations

The diplomat noted that the success of the Nigerian elections was a very strong signal that other African states can hold successful polls. 
 
"The Nigerian desire for a democratic government reflects a desire of many people across Africa. It is an indication, too, that if Nigeria, with its large size and population, can run and manage successful democratic elections, it is possible for many of the other smaller states to do so as well," he added.

NAN/Williams