The City Reporters
Jonathan on Aljazeera, Monday March 2, 2015.
The United States and the United Kingdom has warned President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against rigging the collation process of the 2015 presidential and federal parliamentary elections.
The warning came after many Nigerians expressed fears the polls, which were adjudged free and fair, could be sabotaged at the critical collation stage ongoing in Abuja.
The US-UK in a statement, Monday, warned that such move could trigger public unrest and mar elections which have been largely peaceful so far.
Read the complete statement below.
Foreign Secretary and US Secretary of State joint statement on the Nigerian elections
“Our governments welcome the largely peaceful vote on 28 March. The Nigerian people have shown a commendable determination to register their vote and choose their leaders.
“So far, we have seen no evidence of systemic manipulation of the process. But there are disturbing indications that the collation process – where the votes are finally counted – may be subject to deliberate political interference. This would contravene the letter and spirit of the Abuja Accord, to which both major parties committed themselves.
“The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom would be very concerned by any attempts to undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission (INEC), or its Chairman, Prof Jega; or in any way distort the express.”
