2023: Why We’re Interested In Nigeria’s Elections – UK Spills

British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Catriona Laing on Thursday disclosed why the United Kingdom is interested in electoral processes in the country.

According to Laing, the UK is interested in elections in the country because they are crucial to the African continent and the world as a whole.

Laing made this claim when she visited the leadership of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

She further stated that the world would be watching the forthcoming elections and hoping that it turns out well.

According to Laing, the United Kingdom would be following the interests, the manifestos and the policies ahead of the 2023 general elections in the West African country.

Laing said: “We look forward to seeing how much this election matters. Nigeria has been on a democratic journey since 1999. And that, in itself is something to be very proud of.

“You are in a region, unfortunately, where democracy is backsliding. I know in Nigeria, your President has taken a very clear forward position on that and in ECOWAS and so on.

“So the world will be watching this election, and hoping it goes well. So it matters, obviously, for the people of Nigeria, it matters for Africa, and it matters for the world.

“You’re one of the largest democracies globally. And we want you to stay (part) of that global community.

“That’s a very important objective for our government to talk about building a network of liberty likeminded countries and also a democratic global alliance. That’s our hope and aspiration for Nigeria.”

The British envoy added that the UK is looking forward to decisions that would move Nigeria forward and take it to its rightful place in the global community.

She added, “We will not be taking a stance beyond that. Obviously, we’ll be following the interests, the manifestos and the policies.

“We’ll be hoping for a good policy that will enable Nigeria to move forward and take its rightful place in the global community.”

The National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu in his response said the party is committed to the democratic process.

Ayu noted that PDP which ruled the country for the past 16 years is not happy to be in opposition for the last six years.

He further stated that the main opposition party is working on rebuilding the party to make sure that Nigerians have confidence in it.

The PDP National Chairman called on the Independent National Electoral Commission and other umpires to carry out their duty without bias.

Ayu said, “We were able to win elections from the beginning in 1999. We led in building democratic institutions, quite a number of institutions that exist today.

“We also continue to win elections because of popular support that we received in Nigeria across the country, including the international community that came to support what we were doing.

“Along the line, in a commitment to democracy, we had an election which we lost. We accepted defeat because of our deep beliefs in the democratic process.

“So we are not happy to be in opposition for the last six years. No party wants to be in opposition.

“We have been working very hard to rebuild the party to make sure that Nigerians have confidence in us as a party.

“I want to say that the signs are there that Nigerians believe that we are the only organic party in this country.

“On that note, I want to assure you that we will not deviate from the democratic journey and we expect all other parties in this country to also try as much as possible to uphold the tenets of democracy which is free and fair elections.

“We expect all umpire institutions, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, to carry out their work without bias against us as a major opposition party.”