Elections: Biden pledges support for Nigeria, others

Urges Buhari, INEC to be non-partisan President Joe Biden of the United States has expressed the willingness of his country to support Nigeria and five other African countries in any area assistance may be required ahead of scheduled elections. The US president stated this yesterday during his meeting with leaders of six African countries slated […]

• Urges Buhari, INEC to be non-partisan

President Joe Biden of the United States has expressed the willingness of his country to support Nigeria and five other African countries in any area assistance may be required ahead of scheduled elections.

The US president stated this yesterday during his meeting with leaders of six African countries slated to have elections in 2023 on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leaders Summit taking place in the US capital, Washington DC.

Biden said he understood the challenges facing the countries.

He said the meeting with the select African leaders including those of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone was to discuss elections and democracy in Africa, share experiences with the United States on the forthcoming elections as well as encourage the countries to continue with the democratic process.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in deepening democracy not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa.

President Biden said he had followed the trajectory of the Nigerian leader since 2015 when he was elected president from being an opposition leader at a time he (Biden) was a vice president. 

He added that it was very heartening that Nigeria was quite a model for democracy, especially the fact that President Buhari was not seeking a third term.

He, therefore, encouraged President Buhari and the Nigerian electoral umpire to continue to be totally non-partisan.

President Buhari, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed his appreciation to the US president for his positive remarks and congratulated him on attaining the peak of his political career which is the presidency of the US.

He also commended Biden for organising the summit with African leaders and wished him well in all his endeavours.