The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has urged eligible Nigerian voters to go pick up their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in order to exercise their voting rights ahead of next month’s elections.
The High Commissioner said this in a 27secs video posted on the commission’s verified Twitter handle on Friday, encouraging Nigerians to exercise their voting rights.
She said; “The 2023 election is fast approaching and I will like to encourage every eligible Nigerian voter to go pick up their PVC to exercise your voting right.
“Remember the deadline is Sunday 29th, so hurry now to enable you participate in the democratic process on election day.”
Laing had in November 2022 said the United Kingdom, like the rest of the international community, would be watching the 2023 general elections in Nigeria very closely.
This, she explained, is because of the important position Nigeria occupies in Africa and the rest of the world.
Laing who stated this during a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party, at the PDP National Secretariat, Abuja, yesterday, said: “This election is very important to Africa and the rest of the world, so the spotlight will be on Nigeria and the UK will be watching closely.
“We engage in so many ways, we have spoken with INEC, civil societies, we don’t support any political party, it is for the people of Nigeria to decide who will lead them at the federal level and state levels. In that spirit, we are meeting all the main political parties.
“I met with the chairman in February, this is our second meeting and I will be meeting all the other chairs of the main political parties.”
In a related development, the United States has imposed visa restrictions on Nigerian politicians and state actors who undermine democracy in the country.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in a tweet that “To support Nigeria’s upcoming elections, today I am announcing visa restrictions for those involved in undermining democracy in Nigeria. The United States supports Nigerian aspirations to combat corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.”