The United Kingdom has disclosed that it hopeful that President Muhammadu Buhari, will give his assent to the Electoral Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill which was transmitted to him by the national assembly a fortnight ago.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, made these known when she spoke at the opening ceremony of YIAGA Convergence 3.0 on Thursday. She noted that she was in Zimbabwe where she observed elections and which has helped her fully recognise how powerful the civil society could be.
Laing, while pointing out that the next generation election in Nigeria is ‘make or break,’ said, ‘We honestly really believe for Nigeria, for Africa, for the World that the outcome of this election and the conduct of this election is massively important.’
According to the High Commissioner, it has been ‘a little bit of a rocky road’ for Nigerian democracy since 1999 but the country has ‘stuck with it.’
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She said ‘the world will be looking at this election’ and whether it would be secured and conducted ‘relatively well’ as well as if the electorate would accept the results and rally round the new leadership.
The diplomat added in part, ‘Speaking for my government and the new US administration, we are very conscious…we need to build a coalition of democracies.’
Liang said it is hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission would deliver ‘a good election and the Electoral Act, hopefully, will be passed soon by the President for the electronic transmission of votes.’
She added, ‘But fundamentally, it needs people to register to vote.’
According to her, while the British Government has been monitoring the voter registration process and it has been going quite well, ‘we need to up the ante’.
Meanwhile, President Buhari, has promised Nigerians and the international community that his government will ensure free and fair elections in the 2023 general elections.
Buhari also assured Nigerians of a peaceful transfer of power, even as he called on global partners to support Nigeria’s efforts in tackling insurgency and terrorism.
AFRICA TODAY NEW, NEW YORK