U.S senator cautions Biden for rushing to embrace results of ‘deeply flawed’ Nigeria election

Member of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch (Rep-Idaho), has cautioned the President Joe Biden administration for rushing to embrace results of the February 25 disputed presidential election in Nigeria.

The senator further expressed the fears that the rush by the U.S government to accept ‘flawed’ results of Nigeria’s presidential elections ‘will undermine our ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their longstanding desire for democracy.’

It would be recalled that the Nigerian presidential election produced the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner, beating rivals from the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi to emerge president-elect.

Tinubu has since been presented with the Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which conducted the election.

Protests and rejections started even before the final over the outcome against conduct of INEC during and after the polls, as opposition parties rejected the results and the collation process.

Similarly, the country’s former heads of state, as well as, international election observer groups have faulted the process and conduct of the polls, even as some called for its cancellation. 

The two main challengers have also since filed suits at the Appeal Court challenging the outcome of the election.

Meanwhile, the U.S Government, in a statement issued by its State Department, Thursday, congratulated Nigerians, opposition political parties, the President-elect, as well as, other stakeholders over the results of the February 25 election.

The US’s State Department, in a statement, issued by its Spokesperson, Mr. Ned Price, Thursday, while describing the poll as ‘a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy,’ however, said it aligns with other international observers in urging INEC to improve in the areas that need the most attention ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections.

“The United States congratulates the people of Nigeria, President-elect Tinubu, and all political leaders following the declaration by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the results of the February 25 presidential election.  This competitive election represents a new period for Nigerian politics and democracy.  Each of the top three candidates was the leading vote-getter in 12 states, a remarkable first in Nigeria’s modern political era, reflecting the diversity of views that characterized the campaign and the wishes of Nigeria’s voters.

“We understand that many Nigerians and some of the parties have expressed frustration about the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle. Nigerians are clearly within their rights to have such concerns and should have high expectations for their electoral processes. We join other international observers in urging INEC to improve in the areas that need the most attention ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections.

“There are well-established mechanisms in place for the adjudication of electoral disputes, and we encourage any candidate or party seeking to challenge the outcome to pursue redress through those mechanisms.  We call on all parties, candidates, and supporters to refrain from violence or inflammatory rhetoric at this critical time.

“We commend the active participation of civil society and the media for advancing electoral norms and political discourse on issues of importance to citizens.  We note with concern reports that numerous members of the media were attacked during the course of the election, and we urge the government, security forces, political actors, and all citizens to respect the media’s critical role by refraining from any damaging acts against them and ensuring accountability for such acts when they do occur.  We also congratulate the Nigerian people, especially the large number of youths who are relatively new to the political process, for demonstrating their strong commitment to democracy,” read the statement.

However, berating the decision of the U.S government to embrace results of thedispited Nigeria poll, Senator Risch described the election’s outcome as ‘controversial.’

Risch’s statement was published on the United States Foreign Relations Committee website, Thursday.

“The ongoing electoral process in Nigeria is widely viewed as deeply flawed by election observers and many Nigerians.

“It is disappointing to see the administration rush to embrace the result while the full picture of what occurred during this electoral process is yet to be seen.

“I’ve expressed similar concerns related to other areas of our relationship with the Nigerian government. I worry this rush to judgement will undermine our ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their longstanding desire for democracy.

“With Nigeria heading into state-level elections in just a few days, it is important that the United States be more concerned with supporting the Nigerian people and their democratic aspirations than embracing the Nigerian government,” the statement read.