The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has declared that the UK as well as the entire international community will be watching the 2023 general elections in Nigeria with keen interest.
Laing made this assertion on Thursday in Abuja, when she visited the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The British envoy stated that the election matters to the country, Africa and the world at large, stressing that Nigeria is one of the largest democracies in the world.
‘Our aspiration is for 2023 to be a credible election that the people of Nigeria have confidence in.
‘We will not be taking a stand beyond that. Obviously we’ll be following the interests the manifestos and the policy and hoping for good policy that will enable Nigeria to move forward and take its rightful place in the global community.’
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According to her, ‘one of the challenges in Nigeria has been low turnout, you know, what we can we do collectively to inspire the youth to believe in their politics and in the future of their country. We look forward to see how much this election matters.
‘Nigeria has been on the democratic journey since 1999. And that, in itself is something to be very proud of. You are in a region, unfortunately, where the democracy is backsliding.
‘I know in Nigeria, your president has taken a very clear forward position on that, and in ECOWAS and so on.’
She added ‘so the world will be watching this election, and hoping it goes well. So it matters, obviously, for the people of Nigeria, it matters for Africa, and it matters for the world. You are one of the largest democracies globally.’
In his remarks, Ayu, noted that the expectations of the PDP is that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other state institutions that will be involved in the 2023 polls will be neutral.
The opposition leader said it is obvious that Nigerians are yearning for the return of the PDP to power in 2023.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK