Regarding the elections in Nigeria in 2023, the US government has reiterated its position and threatened penalties and visa restrictions against politicians who want to obstruct democracy or incite violence.
Additionally, the US supported the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to use the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and electronic results transmission.
On Monday, November 21, Rolf Olson, Political Counselor at the US Embassy in Nigeria, delivered a speech on behalf of the US government at the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Alumni Association Annual Seminar 2022 on “Promoting Electoral Integrity in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges” in Abuja.
Olson insisted that no representative of the US government will be running in the future elections.
On the 2023 elections, he said: “It never ceases to amaze me how often we see comments, claims, and assertions from people in social and traditional media about what our supposed objectives are in the elections, which candidate or party we favour, how to interpret certain statements or actions of ours in terms of what it means about our intentions are perceptions.
“In reality, I think it’s quite simple to interpret us, especially when it comes to the elections. We always try to be clear in our messages, so let me be clear here on several important points:
“The United States does not support any individual candidate or party in this election cycle (or for that matter, in any other upcoming election). Our interest is in supporting credible and transparent elections that reflect the will of Nigerian voters, in a process that is conducted peacefully. Full stop. Individuals seeking to undermine the democratic process, including through violence, may be found ineligible for visas to the United States.
“We have imposed visa restrictions in the past against those responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic process, and remain fully willing to do so again in the context of the upcoming elections.”
He cautioned parties, candidates, and their backers against using language that “guarantees” victory and said that there is no real democratic election in which the result is predetermined.
He cautioned parties, candidates, and their backers against using language that “guarantees” victory and said that there is no real democratic election in which the result is predetermined.
