‘Don’t postpone polls’, US warns Nigeria

monjola sotubo

January 26, 2015 10:34 AM

This was reportedly stated by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry during a visit to Nigeria on Sunday, January 25.

The US has warned Nigeria against any plans to postpone the 2015 General Elections, which are slated to begin in February.

This was reportedly stated by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry during a visit to Nigeria on Sunday, January 25.

Kerry met with President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari in a bid to canvass for peaceful elections.

“Given the stakes, it’s absolutely critical that these elections are conducted peacefully. It is imperative that Nigeria holds its elections on time,” Kerry reportedly said.

“Nobody gains by violence, nobody gains by turning a political disagreement into a killing spree … The proof will be in the actions that are taken in the course of the election and afterwards. Anyone who participates in, plans or calls for violence against the civilian population must be held accountable, including by ineligibility for an American visa. Perpetrators of such violence would not be welcome in the US,” the Secretary of State added.

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki on Thursday, January 22, called for the elections to be postponed while speaking in London at a think-tank.

monjola sotubo