US Envoy To Nigeria Harps On Free, Fair And Credible Election, As Maku Raises Alarm Over Planned Rigging By Ruling Party

Rabiu Omaku

Stuart Symington, United State of American Ambassador to Nigeria has called on Nigerians to stick to one man one vote to ensure free, fair and credible election to devoid of violence.

He gave the call during a courtesy call on Hon. Labaran Maku, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance in Nasarawa State at the candidate’s campaign office along Jos road, Lafia.

While addressing Journalists shortly  after his with Making,MrStuart said the 2019 general elections is all about Nigeria and Nigerians but the rest of the world are concern.

“This 2019 election   Nigerian elections and the rest of the world cares about Nigerian people. The last election in 2015 gave credibility to Nigeria and made Nigeria stand with the rest of the world. That credibility help Nigeria to govern well at home and lift Nigeria image before the world”.

“People look to Nigeria when she said she stands for democracy and we said it was true because we saw it in Nigeria in 2015 general elections.

” I spoke with candidates from presidential to the gubernatorial  said they support one man one vote, one woman one vote to count. I hear that and I believe that.

Adding that If every Nigeria will give what these candidates said they want, that is one man one vote, one woman one vote the election will be transparent, peaceful resulting into a credible, free and fair election.

“Ultimately every Nigerian citizen is responsible under their God, under Nigerian law, their conscience, they are responsible under the public opinion of Nigeria, as well as in the eyes of the international world.

“Peace is not something you pledge but something you grow whether you are a youth or an older person by what you say and by what you do, he added

Labaran Maku while speaking called on the international community to beam their search light on Nasarawa State over alleged plans by the ruling party to rig this year’s election.

Maku disclosed that the utterance and activities of the ruling party All Progressives Congress in the state is a clear indication that the party had perfected to rig elections.

“The people of the state are fed up with rigging and will stand and defend their vote till the final declaration. Those who are in the rigging team should not forget that they are known to the concern people of the state”.

Maku confided that APGA is one of the most peaceful political parties in the country with the motto; ‘be your brothers and sisters keeper’.

He however attributed election violence to perceived lack of neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The former supervising minister of defense assured that as a respected erstwhile minister of the federal republic of Nigeria he will never incite or encourage conflict.

“I would not encourage wanton disturbances because the office I’m seeking for does not worth the blood of any Nigerian,” said Labaran Maku.