The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has stated that it is monitoring the appeals process related to the Edo State election, particularly in light of civil society concerns regarding alleged irregularities.
This follows the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s decision in Abuja, which upheld the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the APC, rejecting the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo’s petition.
Ighodalo has since announced his intention to appeal the tribunal’s ruling.
The tribunal dismissed his petition due to lack of merit and the failure to present competent witnesses to substantiate the claims of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
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The U.S. Mission, in its statement, highlighted that observers reported “serious lapses in the collation process” during the election, raising concerns about the overall transparency and credibility of the electoral proceedings.
“The United States is committed to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria,” said Ambassador Richard Mills in the statement shared on X handle. “Transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.”
Mills’ statement reiterates his previous comments on September 24, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic principles in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The statement read: “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is following the Edo election appeal process closely, particularly given civil society’s concerns about critical issues related to the election, such as ‘serious lapses in the collation process’ that were observed. Â
“Ambassador Mills reiterates his statement of September 24 that transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system. The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
The Edo State gubernatorial election has been a contentious issue, with various stakeholders raising concerns about the conduct of the polls.
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