US confident INEC can deliver credible polls

• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The United States of America has thrown its weight behind the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) ability to conduct free, fair and credible polls in February and March.

US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard said that the only election that matters is the one that INEC counts.

The US Ambassador also reaffirmed her country's seriousness to slam visa ban on any individual who attempts to scuttle the democratic process during the coming general elections.

Leonard spoke in Abuja at the one-day multi-stakeholders dialogue on ''Nigeria's 2023 election: Fostering youth action for peace and stability'' 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.

The ambassador 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.

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'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 said.

She also said that the 2022...