The United States Mission in Nigeria has reacted to the election victory of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state. The election was held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 where Obaseki floored his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Obaseki ran under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) while Osagie contested under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Obaseki of the PDP defeated Ize-Iyamu with a landslide victory at the poll.
Prior to the election, the US had earlier released details of some Nigerians who it had banned from traveling to the nation for the ignoble roles some of them played in the 2019 and the Kogi state governorship election.
The US thereafter warned that it had established mechanisms to monitor Nigerians who will foment trouble in the just concluded Edo state election with a view to banning same from gaining access into the soil of the United States.
But with the peaceful manner in which the election was conducted, the US mission in the concluded has expressed happiness and concluded the winner and the people of Edo state for their orderly conduct that produced the new governor without crisis and violence.
Read the message posted on Facebook by the US mission in Nigeria.
“Congratulations to the people of Edo State on a credible and peaceful governorship election. We thank the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian security services on the positive role they played in the election and commend their work in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
“We recognize the critical role that Governor Godwin Obaseki and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu played in promoting peace. We also thank our civil society partners for their invaluable work in upholding democracy and accountability in this election.
“The United States remains concerned with reports of some violence that did emerge during the election, and by reports of vote-buying and intimidation of both voters and civil society domestic observers.
“We will continue to encourage all stakeholders, including INEC, political parties, and the security services, to improve the electoral process in the upcoming Ondo State governorship election.
“As a democratic partner of Nigeria, the United States remains committed to working together to achieve our mutual goals of peace and prosperity for the citizens of both our countries.”
