BUILDING
DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS
The 2019 Elections
by Mirna Torres
N
igeria’s 2015 general
elections were the most free,
fair and peaceful elections
since the transition to
democracy in 1999, and resulted in
the first democratic transfer of power
from the incumbent to an opposition
political party in the country’s history.
The United States is eager to support
Nigeria in consolidating and extending
these democratic gains as it holds
its next elections for president, vice
president, National Assembly members,
governors, deputy governors, and State
Houses of Assembly in 2019.
The people of Nigeria are working
to build ever stronger democratic
institutions. The United States
Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria
supports that goal. As an impartial
observer, and a strong supporter of
an unbiased electoral process, the
U.S. seeks enhanced voter confidence
in the credibility of their elections.
Minimizing electoral violence is
another shared concern, and is critical
to evolving a robust, stable, and
prosperous Nigerian democracy.
Nigeria deserves a free, fair,
transparent, credible, and peaceful
electoral process, one that serves
national cohesion and stability, and
leads to even stronger democratic
institutions. To that end, U.S. Mission
Nigeria is working with other members
of the diplomatic community, members
of civil society, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC),
CROSSROADS | December 2018/January 2019
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