Don’t rush congratulating Tinubu – US Senator warns Biden

 

Jim Risch, the United States (US) Senator on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has warned his country and President Joe Biden against embracing the outcome of the presidential election in Nigeria.

Akelicious reports that the February 25 election produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as president-elect.

A number of irregularities and shortcomings marred the National Assembly and Presidential elections, from alleged fabricated figures from key states to glitches connected to the Result Viewing Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement released on Friday, sent to Akelicious, Risch said the “rush” of authorities to “embrace” the results of the 2023 presidential election, “will undermine our (the US’) ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their (Nigeria’s) longstanding desire for democracy”.

Risch’s statement reads in full: “The electoral process in Nigeria is widely viewed as deeply flawed by election observers and many Nigerians.

“It is disappointing to see the administration rush to embrace the result while the full picture of what occurred during this electoral process is yet to be seen.

“I’ve expressed similar concerns related to other areas of our relationship with the Nigerian government. I worry this rush to judgement will undermine our ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their longstanding desire for democracy.

With Nigeria heading into state-level elections in just a few days (March 11), it is important that the United States be more concerned with supporting the Nigerian people and their democratic aspirations than embracing the Nigerian government.”