WASHINGTON – Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, last night introduced a Senate Resolution reaffirming the Senate’s support for democracy in Nigeria and calling on the Nigerian government to take the necessary steps to facilitate elections that are credible, transparent, and peaceful. Nigeria has presidential elections scheduled for February 16, 2019, and gubernatorial and National Assembly elections scheduled for March 2, 2019.
“I am introducing this resolution to send a signal that the U.S. Senate is carefully watching the conduct of all actors leading up to the February 2019 elections,” said Sen. Menendez. “Nigeria’s last elections in 2015 resulted in the country’s first peaceful transfer of power between political parties, and have rightfully created high expectations among the Nigerian electorate for further improvements. I encourage all those participating in the contest to do their part to ensure that the February elections are peaceful, credible, and meet Nigerian, African, and international standards for the conduct of democratic elections.”
“A credible outcome to next year’s elections will pave the way to closer ties between the United States and Nigeria for years to come, strengthening continued economic, development and security cooperation.”
A copy of the resolution can be found HERE.
###