The presidential elections on February 25 fell short of Nigerians’ aspirations, according to Mary Beth Leonard, the US ambassador to Nigeria.
The ambassador noted that many people are upset and unhappy about the outcomes, while others are cheering triumphs they feel were achieved after a lot of effort.
She made this known in an op-ed, ‘The Elections of February 25.’
She did praise Nigerians for displaying their commitment to democracy, though.
Leonard consequently requested the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately address the issues that can be fixed before the March 11 gubernatorial elections and to carry out a more thorough analysis of the issues that arose during the last elections and what can be done to remedy them.
In addition, she urged INEC to share with the Nigerian public information about the actions it is taking.
She applauded Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, for recognizing Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar’s right to contest the presidential election in a legitimate manner as well as their commitment to doing so.
She wrote, “The people of Nigeria demonstrated their dedication to democracy on February 25, but there are many angry and frustrated Nigerians as well as many who are celebrating victories they believe were hard-fought and well-earned.
“In the coming days, it will be important for the future of this country that Nigerians not let their differences divide them, and that the legally established process for resolving challenges to the election be allowed to take its course.”
Leonard also admitted that as much as it can be unsatisfying to end an electoral process in a courtroom, in a constitutional democracy bound by the rule of law, that is where electoral conflicts may appropriately conclude.
