The U.S. Mission in Nigeria has expressed concern regarding the conduct of the Edo State gubernatorial election, highlighting significant flaws in the electoral process.
In a statement posted on the U.S. Embassy’s official X account, officials cited “serious lapses in the collation process,” raising alarm among civil society organisations and independent election observers.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, David Greene Mills, reiterated his remarks made on September 24, stressing the importance of transparency and proper procedure to sustain trust in democratic systems. “The United States reaffirms our commitment to supporting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections in Nigeria,” the ambassador said.
As legal appeals proceed, the U.S. Mission stated it is paying close attention to developments and called on Nigeria’s judiciary to uphold democratic norms and respect for the rule of law.
Several civil society groups have also criticised the September 21 Edo election, accusing the ruling party of manipulating results in favour of its candidate, Okpebholo.
In its official statement, the U.S. Embassy emphasised its commitment to monitoring the appeal process, particularly due to concerns raised by local observers about the integrity of the collation stage.
Ambassador Mills reaffirmed his earlier position: “Transparency and due process are crucial to maintaining public confidence in any democratic system.”
The U.S. vowed to continue supporting democratic processes across Nigeria.
