US, EU urge transparent campaigns, warn against hate speech - 2019 Election

As the campaigns for the 2019 elections commenced on Sunday, the United States, European Union and 23 other western nations have called for transparent campaigns in the run-up to the polls.

They also warned political and non-political actors against hate speech and violence, stressing that their concern was to see a process leading to free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.

The group in a joint statement in Abuja on Sunday said they would follow the campaigns and monitor the election process closely.

The statement was signed by the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, and Denmark.

Other signatories included Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,  Romania, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Republic of Korea, Ireland and Slovakia.

The group said, “As friends of Nigeria and its people, we will follow the campaigns and election process closely. Who wins the elections is for the Nigerian people to decide. Our concern is to see a process leading to free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections.

“We hope to see transparent campaigns and we urge all voters to use their democratic right and vote. We are particularly keen to see greater participation of women, youth, and people living with disabilities.

“We urge all involved – political and non-political actors – to refrain from using hate speech and take a firm stance against violence. The 2015 Peace Accords played an important role in that regard and we welcome new efforts towards that end.”