EU, US, UK urge peaceful re-run election

The European Union (EU), United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) have admonished stakeholders to ensure that the re-run election scheduled for tomorrow is peaceful.

The three missions who were part of the global observers that monitored the election last Saturday, lauded the conduct of the poll, commending the people for voting peacefully, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the improved organisation of the exercise, and security agencies for maintaining conducive atmosphere.

They called on all to continue to support a peaceful, free and fair completion of the process as INEC re-runs the election in seven polling units. The missions absolved INEC of any blame in declaring the elections inconclusive, saying “through no fault of their own, voters were not able to cast their votes and have them counted last Saturday.”

A statement released jointly by the EU, UK and the US in Abuja yesterday stressed the need for the re-run to take place without any violence, intimidation or vote buying.The statement urged whoever wins the election after Thursday’s vote to be magnanimous in victory, and whoever loses should be gracious in defeat.