U.S President, Joe Biden has released a statement concerning the 2023 Nigerian presidential elections which would take place on Saturday February 25, 2023.
In the statement issued today, February 23, 2023, Biden commended Buhari for his commitment to a free and fair election while praising the candidates for signing a peace accord ahead of the election.
Biden averred that by signing the pledge, the parties and candidates have committed to accept the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and to support a peaceful transition of power.
“Elections are a fundamental part of a functioning democracy, and all Nigerians deserve this chance to choose their future — freely and fairly,” Biden stated.
The President added that while the United States does not support any single candidate or party, “we strongly support a peaceful and transparent process that reflects the will of the people of Nigeria.”
“On election day, I encourage all Nigerians — no matter their religion, region, or ethnicity —to exercise this fundamental freedom and make their voices heard — including young voters, many of whom may be heading to the ballot box for the first time.”
President Joe Biden
Biden stressed that the United States stands with the Nigerian people as they chart a path toward a more democratic, prosperous, and secure future.
“I appreciate President Buhari’s firm commitment that the will of the people will be respected,” the U.S. leader added.
Also, President Biden encouraged voters to remain peaceful and patient as their ballots are tallied, and urged the political parties and candidates to live up to their pledge.
More than 93 million registered voters are going to the polls to queue up behind their favourite candidates in the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
The four major candidates for the presidential election include Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress(APC).
The Diplomatic Missions of the United States, Australia, Japan, Norway, Canada and the United Kingdom in Nigeria have lauded the signing of the second peace accord by the presidential candidates.
INEC Takes Measures To Ensure Free And Fair Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) announced that it has taken measures to ensure this election will be free and fair; a major concern in a country with a long history of electoral discord and violence.
There will be about 176,600 polling stations across the country, including in camps for people displaced by the conflict between Islamist insurgents and federal troops in the northeast.
Voters will present their voting cards and be identified by a Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) that uses fingerprints and facial recognition.
This is aimed at reducing the risk of fraudsters voting several times.
On voting day, results from individual polling stations will be pasted outside for citizens to view, and sent through BVAS to an INEC portal.
INEC disclosed that the results will be displayed on the portal in real-time and accessible by the public. It is hoped this will reduce the risk of the figures being manipulated along the way.
INEC stated that citizens wishing to witness the sorting and counting of ballot papers at polling stations should do so from a distance of 300 metres.
In the past, one of the forms of vote-rigging seen in Nigeria was the intimidation of electoral officials by thugs paid by politicians.
While INEC has not said exactly when it would declare official results, this is expected to take place in the first half of next week.
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