The United States Consulate General in Nigeria, Claire Pierangelo, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure free, fair and credible governorship election in Ondo State on Saturday.
Pierangelo in an interview monitored by Tribune Online on Adaba FM in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, noted that the US wants the electoral body to be above board and ward off any form of intimidation or pressure to compromise the integrity of the poll.
She added that the governorship election is critical to the sole of the nation’s democracy, saying the people must be allowed to elect their preferred candidates without fear or harassments.
The US consulate explained that “We are expecting a peaceful election and most importantly giving the people of Ondo state credible election where they will freely elect their governor because it is a key component to Nigeria’s democratic development.”
She urged the security agencies to discharge their duties with all fairness, saying, “We don’t want voter’s intimidation, ballot box snatching and other vices. Any form of manipulation cannot be tolerated. We want security agencies to fulfil their obligations to assist the operation of the election in Ondo State.”
On the recent visa ban of some political gladiators in the country for interfering in electoral processes, she revealed that the step was not arbitrary but taken in collaboration with some concerned Nigerians.
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