British High Commissioner to Nigeria Catriona Laing has urged politicians contesting Saturday’s general elections to concede defeat or seek redress through the courts in order to curb post‑election violence. She made the appeal during a live appearance on Channels Television’s election programme, *The 2023 Verdict*, on Tuesday, stressing that such measures are essential given the lack of clear popularity among the candidates.
Laing recalled the deadly violence that followed the April 2011 presidential election, when President Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) was declared the winner. In the three days of rioting that swept 12 northern states, more than 800 people were killed, including ten youth corps members whose lives were tragically cut short. She expressed concern that the pre‑election violence already witnessed could worsen if a free and fair poll is undermined.
“There is a worry around insecurity and violence,” Laing said. “In this pre‑election period, the number of violent incidents is higher than in the last election. We hope people can go out to vote peacefully on the day of the presidential and gubernatorial election. But most worrying is the post‑election period, where we have seen quite intense violence in the past. To avoid that, we’re urging the heads of the political parties to ensure that their supporters vote and accept the result if they lose. If they wish to challenge anything, it is better to do so through the judicial process to keep things calm during what will be a very close election. There’s a lot at stake, and that is one of my fears and worries.”
Reports indicate that 18 presidential candidates will appear on the ballot for Saturday’s election. However, most Nigerians expect the race to be dominated by the All Progressives Congress’s Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is contesting on the New Nigeria Peoples Party ticket.
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