The United States of America has declared that it does not endorse any candidate running for office in the general elections of 2023.
This was announced in a 58-second video of solidarity posted on its verified social media accounts by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and two other senior administrative officers, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that the elections for the National Assembly and the presidency will take place on February 25.
However, the US government urged Nigerians to choose their preferred candidates in the general elections, adding that free and fair elections in Nigeria would help create a freer and fairer world for everyone.
They stressed that “we strongly support a peaceful election that reflects the will of the people of Nigeria.
“Nigeria’s Constitution, like America’s, begins with a simple and profound idea: ‘We the people’. And during this election, you, the people of Nigeria, have a chance to make your voices heard, to choose your future.
“The United States does not support any candidate for office, but we strongly support a peaceful election that reflects the will of the people of Nigeria, because free and fair elections in Nigeria help create a freer and fairer world for everyone.”
The US urged Nigerians to understand that “your vote matters.”
“This election matters — not only to Nigerians, but to the rest of the world,” they said.
While giving assurance that Nigeria has a friend and partner in the US, the officials said the US was invested in Nigeria’s success as the shared democratic futures of both countries depended on it.
“We’re invested in your success. Our shared democratic futures depends on it.
“The Nigerian people have a friend and partner in the United States of America.”
