Our Priority Is To See Nigeria’s Democracy Thrive – U.S Institute

A senior advocate at the United State Institute for peace, Ambassador Jonnie Carsen says the priority of the Institute as well as the United State of America government is to see democracy thrive in Nigeria because of the strategic importance of the country on the continent.

The senior fellow of the global think thank made the statement in Washington DC when the institute played host to the Nigerian Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

However, commenting on the some issues, Ambassador Carsen stated that he believes the just concluded elections in Nigeria was highly competitive.

It was also his view that in as much as there are positives to pick in the process, the electoral umpire should have done much better.

“There would be improvement going forward because there must be.There is no other option” the diplomat added.

Speaking specifically about the election, the diplomat said he co-led the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the International Republican Institute (IRI), International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria during the elections.

According to him, Tinubu, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, ``undoubtedly’’ won the polls and would be sworn-in come May 29, ``except something happens dramatically with the court’’.

“Do you know why he won? He got the money, he had the best national organisation that worked for him and the ground game,’’ he said.

Carson emphasised that for a candidate to win an election in Nigeria, like a lot of democracy in the globe, the three things, including substantial and significant financial resources are needed.

Others, according to him, are a national working organisation and a grass-root acceptance.

He said while Tinubu had all the three criteria in his kitty during the polls, the other major contenders did not have

He however said the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, did not have the ground game especially in the North and a national organisation.

``Obi is, however, very popular, particularly among the young, educated, urban and sophisticated,’’ he said.

Carson noted that the presidential election was one of the most competitive polls in Nigeria and in Africa.

He, however observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needed to up its game.

``Nigeria deserves the very best electoral process. To me the problem is not with Tinubu and the other candidates.

“INEC could have done a better job for Nigeria and I think that is where we have a challenge,’’ he said.

Carson hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment in delivering a free and fair elections for Nigeria.

``President Buhari is a man of outstanding integrity’’ and he demonstrated the attribute in the past elections.

On his part, the minister said considering where INEC was coming from and where it is today, there are massive improvements in the conduct of the 2023 polls.

The minister said the introduction of a new technology Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) by INEC underpinned the credibility of the elections.The Minister said the challenges faced was about technological glitch and not policy failure.

Mohammed said the election was conducted against the backdrop of fuel shortage, mounting insecurity and poorly timed cash swap policy

N.O