The United Nations has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure the 2023 general elections in Nigeria are peaceful, credible, and acceptable.
The special representative of the secretary-general (SRSG) of the United Nations and head of the UN Office for West and Sahel, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, made the demand when he visited the national leadership of the APC at the Party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
The Special Representative of @UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West & Sahel, Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif led an 8-member delegation on a visit to the Sen. @SenAbdullahiA-chaired National Working Committee. They harped on peaceful & transparent 2023 elections. pic.twitter.com/TQH9bru8j7
— APC Nigeria (@OfficialAPCNg) June 27, 2022
The APC national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, received Mr. Mahamat Saleh Annadif, who led an 8-member delegation; he was represented by the Party’s deputy national chairman (North), Senator Abubakar Kyari.
The UN special representative told the party leaders the international body was banking on the APC for credible polls. He added that it is the hope that Nigeria stays in good health and be the locomotive for other regions because if Nigeria sneezes, the entire African sub-region catches a cold.
Annadif said, “We met this morning with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and we plan to meet with all the critical actors in Nigeria with a straightforward message.
“We would like to see the coming elections going peacefully and accepted in all parts of Nigerians. With the APC in power, you have a vital role to play. We want to emphasise that the UN is with you and supporting you.
“As I like to say, when Nigeria sneezes, the entire region catches a cold. So we like and hope that Nigeria stays in good health and is the locomotive for other regions, and therefore we expect the APC to support peaceful elections.
“Thank you very much for welcoming our delegation and we hope to come back to celebrate the peaceful elections.”
Speaking on behalf of the national chairman, Abubakar Kyari said the recent governorship election in Ekiti State is a referendum, a vote of confidence in the APC, and a pointer to the 2023 general elections.
He said while the APC is committed to the ideals of democratic governance and observance of the rule of law in all its undertakings, it shall continue to apply them diligently in canvassing for votes ahead of the 2023 polls.
Kyari said, “We wish to inform the SRSG that the APC is poised to go into the general elections in the country with a commitment to observing the rule of law and intend to take part peacefully.
“Bring the ruling Party and one with the most significant number of registered members, numbering 43 million people; the APC has every stake in the orderly and peaceful conduct of the elections across Nigeria.
“The APC considers the gubernatorial election that recently took place in Ekiti State as a referendum and a vote of confidence in the Party and a pointer to 2023 when the Party hopes to form the government in the center and also in most of the states across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
“The APC to assures the entire UN body through the SRSG that the APC is committed to the ideals of democratic governance and observance of the rule of law in all its undertakings, and shall continue to apply them diligently while canvassing for votes and while it forms the next national government in 2023.
“APC is pleased to inform you of the progress made in Nigeria, especially in infrastructure development, since the APC came into power in 2015.
“He should reaffirm the commitment of the Party to take Nigeria to higher levels of material and cultural development in the coming years, particularly through the holistic implementation of the UN SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063, and the AU Programme of Infrastructure Development (PIDA).
“The Party reiterates the commitment of Nigeria to recharging the Lake Chad as an urgent priority for the members of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC), which includes Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria.
“He should also reiterate Nigeria’s desire to reinforce the LCBC Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) towards combating terrorism and other forms of international crime across our shared borders.
“The APC looks forward to furthering deep cooperation between the Office of the SRSG and the APC in all governance matters towards advancing ECOWAS, African Union, and United Nations best practices.
“Finally, we wish the SRSG a successful visit to Nigeria and to urge him to feel at home because he is truly in his own country.”
]S.O
