The European Union has debunked claims that it wants to interfere in Nigeria’s presidential election on February 16, saying that the aim of the Union was to assist the nation to organise credible, free and fair elections.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West Africa States, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen said that the EU has never had the intention of choosing a leader for Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa on Media, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, Karlsen said this during a courtesy call on the Governor, Seriake Dickson at the Government House, Yenagoa.
He maintained that the 2015 election results had already convinced the international community that Nigeria was more than capable of organising credible polls.
Karlsen reiterated that the EU did not have any intention of interfering with the nation’s electoral process.
“We are visiting at this important moment ahead of the presidential elections and of course the state elections in so many parts of Nigeria to express to you the governor, and your team the importance that we attach to having a free, fair and credible, peaceful and transparent elections in Nigeria.
“We are strong believers in the consolidation of democracy as the best if not the only way to continue stability and development and creation of opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.
”And that is why we reiterate again and again that for the EU and the international community at large, we are not here to select the leadership of Nigeria. That cannot be and should not be our aspiration.
“Our only desire is to see to a fair process of the election in this country because that is what is providing that legitimacy of the democratically- elected government, whether at the federal or state level.
“And Nigeria demonstrated wonderfully in the last election in 2015 how the outcome of a democratic election can prevail. That message was very powerful within Nigeria but it resonated far, far beyond the borders of Nigeria, to West Africa and to the world.”
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