2015: US Replies Jonathan, Says Obama Did Not Meddle In Nigeria’s Election

The United States has faulted the position of former President Goodluck Jonathan that former President Barack Obama and by extension the country meddled in Nigeria’s 2015 election.

The United States through its Consulate in Nigeria stated its position in response to allegations by Jonathan in his new book: “My Transition Hours.”

Jonathan, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2015 polls, had accused Obama of meddling in the election to the favour of the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress and now President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Responding in a live chat on Facebook to the accusation, the Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate General in Lagos, Russell Brooks, described Jonathan’s claims as a “mischaracterisation”.

Brooks said: “It was mischaracterised in the book about what President Obama or his administration did in Nigeria.

“The mischaracterisation here refers to not comprehending why we felt it was important for Nigeria to have a peaceful, free and fair election in 2015.

“And thereby people may not understand why we placed so much importance on having a peaceful, free and fair and transparent election in 2019.

“In the past, Nigeria’s elections had been beset by violence.

“There have been questions about the fairness of those elections.

“And we certainly believe that Nigeria can do better.

“In 2015, Nigeria did do better.

“There may have been some difficulties, as they often times occur in elections whether here in Nigeria or in the United States.

“But Nigeria did do better and we believe Nigeria will continue to make progress.”

Asked if the US will be supporting any presidential candidate ahead of the 2019 election, Brooks said the country would remain neutral.

He said the only interest of the US is having a credible and fair process.

He said: “We are not favouring or supporting any candidate.

“It is up to the Nigerian people to decide.

“Our candidate is the process.

“The process should be free and fair.

“It should be a non-violent process.

“I am not talking of any plus or minus of any candidate.

“We are not favouring any candidate.

“We are not trying to influence the success of any candidate.

“That is not our role.”

Brooks said the US would support the Independent National Electoral Commission, media and Civil Society Organisations in the area of capacity building.

He said: “We are helping Nigeria to make that progress through our support to INEC, to civil society here in Nigeria, through our assistance to the press and enabling them to also play a positive role in the coverage of the elections.

“All these show how important we believe it is for Nigeria to have an election process that can be credible and stand against any election anywhere in the world.

“We believe Nigeria can accomplish that.”