Mary Beth Leonard
The people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on February 25, but many Nigerians are also angry, frustrated, and celebrating victories they believe were hard‑fought and well‑earned. In the coming days, it will be crucial for the country’s future that Nigerians do not let their differences divide them and that the legally established process for resolving election challenges be allowed to take its course.
We commend Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Mr. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party for their recent statements committing to this path, and we note that Mr. Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress—whom INEC declared the president‑elect under Nigeria’s electoral framework—has acknowledged their right to do so.
The United States is no stranger to election‑related controversy and conflict. As unsatisfying as it can be to end an electoral process in a courtroom, in a constitutional democracy bound by the rule of law that is where electoral disputes may appropriately conclude. It is clear that the February 25 electoral process failed to meet Nigerians’ expectations.
As I have said repeatedly before the elections, Nigeria has accomplished much in just over two decades since the return to democracy, and a gradual improvement in the quality of its elections constitutes one of those accomplishments. Nigerians want that positive trend to continue, including through the use of new technology intended to make reporting results more transparent. Accordingly, we reiterate our call on INEC to promptly address challenges that can be resolved ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections and to undertake a broader review of the problems that transpired during the last elections and how they can be fixed. In all cases, INEC should share with the Nigerian public information about the actions it is taking.
I also want to highlight some remarkable results from this past election that show how Nigeria’s political landscape is indisputably changing. In more than half of the states—20—the winning candidate represented a different party than that of the incumbent governor, and twelve of those states are led by APC governors. For the first time, four presidential candidates won at least one state, and the top three each won 12 states based on these initial results. In the National Assembly elections, even with results still incomplete, we already see change: seven sitting governors lost in their attempts to win seats in the Assembly; the Labour Party has won at least seven Senate seats; and the NNPP has won at least 11 seats in the House of Representatives.
The Nigerian people have made clear their desire for responsive and inclusive governance, and we strongly support their ability to express that desire. The United States and Nigeria are the two largest presidential democracies in the world and longtime partners. As Nigeria moves through the next weeks and months, we stand with you.
Leonard is the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria.
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