Omar on Nigeria: “Democracy rests on free, fair, and transparent elections. When elections are not fair, open, and transparent, it’s disenfranchising and shatters faith in government. Nigeria’s low turnout already suggests a lack of faith in the country’s democratic institutions. It is critical that the process plays out correctly.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
Another prominent United States lawmaker, Ilhan Omar, the US representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district since 2019, on Saturday asked the international community to wait until the electoral challenges in Nigeria are resolved “before prematurely pronouncing a winner.”
Omar’s caution is coming on the heels of Friday’s warning by US Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) that the Biden administration should not have been too quick to congratulate Bola Tinubu who was declared winner by the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) following allegations of irregularities.
The United States on Wednesday congratulated Tinubu while calling for calm amid allegations of voter fraud and concerns over technical glitches.
However, Risch, a ranking member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Friday released a statement on Nigeria’s elections, saying the rush by the US government to accept the results could be damaging.
Speaking in the same vein, Omar bemoaned the irregularities that marred the just-concluded presidential election in Nigeria.
The poll produced Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as president-elect, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The US Congresswoman also said the low voter turnout suggested that the electorate lack faith in democratic institutions in Nigeria.
Omar’s statement reads in full: “I am deeply concerned over the delays and serious allegations of irregularities, including fraud, by multiple independent observers in the recent Nigerian presidential election.
“I urge full transparency and swift action from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), along with a full accounting of allegations of voter suppression, delayed poll openings, the failure of the new electronic voting system, and a sharp decline in turnout.
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“Democracy rests on free, fair, and transparent elections. When elections are not fair, open, and transparent, it’s disenfranchising and shatters faith in government. Nigeria’s low turnout already suggests a lack of faith in the country’s democratic institutions. It is critical that the process plays out correctly.
“Allowing electoral challenges to go through the system is a key part of a functioning democratic process. It is also a way to help build confidence and avoid protracted conflict.
“The international community should support an independent and transparent process and wait until these challenges are resolved before prematurely pronouncing a winner.”
