The United States Embassy in Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the joint decision reached by the European Union Polls Observation Mission and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) elections observation mission on the postponement of the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
The EU Observation Mission, ECOWAS and other election observers, had on Saturday in Abuja asked the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) to finalise preparations and adhere strictly to the new February 23, 2019 date for the general elections.
The mission noted that the suspension of the polls due to logistical and operational challenges had caused disappointment for many, admonishing the commission to provide regular updates and information to the public on its preparations in the coming days and weeks to enhance confidence and trust in the process.
The U.S. Embassy in a statement issued by its Public Affairs Department said it fully supports the joint statement by the heads of the ECOWAS and other international election observation missions on the postponement of the February 16 Nigerian elections.
It said: “We join in encouraging all Nigerians to ensure a free, fair, peaceful, and credible election by supporting the Independent National Electoral Commission while it finalizes electoral preparations this week and by voting in peace together on February 23,2019.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had in the early morning of the election day announced the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections earlier scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019.
Prof. Yakubu gave logistics reasons for the postponement of the elections.
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