Canada Expresses Concern Over Postponement of Nigeria’s Elections

Canada Expresses Concern Over Postponement of Nigeria’s Elections

Canada has advised INEC to guarantee credible elections, even as it expressed
concerned over the postponement of the general elections from Feb. 14 and 28
to March 28 and April 11.
In a statement issued on Monday by Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights said, “Canada is
concerned that Nigeria’s presidential, legislative and state elections have been
postponed.”
The statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Ezinne
Uluocha, Public Affairs Officer, Canadian High Commission, Abuja.
“The people of Nigeria must be allowed to exercise their democratic right to choose
their representatives through free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.
“All institutions of state as well as political parties and candidates must uphold
democratic values,” Obhrai said.
The statement urged the nation’s security agencies to be impartial in the
provision of security for the elections.
It also pointed out the need for journalists to be given unrestrained access to
report the election process.
“It is particularly important that security agencies provide security for elections in an
impartial manner.
“It is also important that journalists are allowed unfettered access in reporting on the
election process,” the statement said.