‘Don’t Rush To Congratulate Tinubu’ — US Senator Tells Biden

• A United States Senator has advised Joe Biden to recalibrate before congratulating Tinubu.

• Risch stated that the electoral process in Nigeria is widely viewed as deeply flawed by election observers.

• Risch was disappointed by the administration’s eagerness to accept the outcome of the election without having a complete understanding of what happened during the entire electoral process.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Jim Risch, a United States (US) Senator on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has cautioned his country and President Joe Biden against embracing the outcome of the presidential election in Nigeria.

There has been a series of mixed reactions from Nigerians following the outcome of the February 25 election which produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as president-elect.

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Several irregularities and shortcomings allegedly marred the National Assembly and Presidential elections, from allegedly fabricated figures in key states to glitches connected to the Result Viewing Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement made available to journalists on Friday, Risch said the “rush” of authorities to “embrace” the results of the 2023 presidential election, “will undermine our (the US’) ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their (Nigeria’s) longstanding desire for democracy”.

Risch’s statement reads in full: “The electoral process in Nigeria is widely viewed as deeply flawed by election observers and many Nigerians.

“It is disappointing to see the administration rush to embrace the result while the full picture of what occurred during this electoral process is yet to be seen.

“I’ve expressed similar concerns related to other areas of our relationship with the Nigerian government. I worry this rush to judgement will undermine our ability to be an effective partner to all Nigerians, especially given their longstanding desire for democracy.

FURTHER READING

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• Adebule Wins Lagos West Senate Seat By A Landslide

“With Nigeria heading into state-level elections in just a few days (March 11), it is important that the United States be more concerned with supporting the Nigerian people and their democratic aspirations than embracing the Nigerian government.”

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