US Pledges to Support Peaceful Elections in Nigeria
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, has said that the US government will support the federal government to ensure a successful general election in 2015.
He stated this yesterday in Abuja, when he paid a courtesy call on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Entwistle was accompanied on the visit by Mrs. Mary Johnson, Deputy Counsellor for Political Affairs, Embassy of the United States of America.
According to the US envoy, the US government would support the federal government because of the long standing relationship between the two countries.
“From our own historical experience, we understand the importance of election. The US will support the Nigerian people in their quest to ensure a credible and transparent election that they want and deserve.
“That is what we stand for, and as part of that, I will try to be in touch with all parties to understand them so that we can be knowledgeable about the electoral process here. I think it is incumbent on all of us to work towards this, history shows us that one election can make the difference.
“It may not happen overnight, but genuine change in every society is only possible in a true democratic process.” Entwistle said. The US envoy cautioned politicians against violence during elections, stating that violence is capable of threatening democracy all over the world, while encouraging potential political party candidates to publicly commit themselves to a non-violent campaigns.
Accordingly, he urged politicians not to encourage, foment or engage in violence before, during and after elections.
He added that it was necessary for politicians to begin to make such commitments from now till the 2015 general election.
In his response, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu`azu, promised that the PDP under his leadership would ensure that its aspirants are subjected to primaries.
According to Mu’azu, the adherence to internal democracy and party primaries would ensure that the will of the people prevail in all elections.
He stressed that the PDP believes in internal democracy, adding that its doctrine of one-man, one-vote would be observed at all elections.
Mu`azu further added that the outcome of the recently concluded governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States was an attestation of the commitment of the party leadership to a transparent election.
He maintained that the PDP remained the only true democratic party in the country that had not changed its name since its inception.
He added that the party was synonymous with Nigeria because it has no religious or ethnic bias, stressing that the unity and development of Nigeria was its priority.
He stated this yesterday in Abuja, when he paid a courtesy call on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Entwistle was accompanied on the visit by Mrs. Mary Johnson, Deputy Counsellor for Political Affairs, Embassy of the United States of America.
According to the US envoy, the US government would support the federal government because of the long standing relationship between the two countries.
“From our own historical experience, we understand the importance of election. The US will support the Nigerian people in their quest to ensure a credible and transparent election that they want and deserve.
“That is what we stand for, and as part of that, I will try to be in touch with all parties to understand them so that we can be knowledgeable about the electoral process here. I think it is incumbent on all of us to work towards this, history shows us that one election can make the difference.
“It may not happen overnight, but genuine change in every society is only possible in a true democratic process.” Entwistle said. The US envoy cautioned politicians against violence during elections, stating that violence is capable of threatening democracy all over the world, while encouraging potential political party candidates to publicly commit themselves to a non-violent campaigns.
Accordingly, he urged politicians not to encourage, foment or engage in violence before, during and after elections.
He added that it was necessary for politicians to begin to make such commitments from now till the 2015 general election.
In his response, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu`azu, promised that the PDP under his leadership would ensure that its aspirants are subjected to primaries.
According to Mu’azu, the adherence to internal democracy and party primaries would ensure that the will of the people prevail in all elections.
He stressed that the PDP believes in internal democracy, adding that its doctrine of one-man, one-vote would be observed at all elections.
Mu`azu further added that the outcome of the recently concluded governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States was an attestation of the commitment of the party leadership to a transparent election.
He maintained that the PDP remained the only true democratic party in the country that had not changed its name since its inception.
He added that the party was synonymous with Nigeria because it has no religious or ethnic bias, stressing that the unity and development of Nigeria was its priority.
Post a Comment