US Don’t Have Anointed Candidate for 2019 Elections, Says Envoy

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The United States, wedneswday, said it has no anointed candidate in Nigeria in the 2019 general elections, but stressed that it would support the country’s electoral processes to ensure a credible, free and fair elections.

The political Officer of the United States Embassy in Nigeria, Philip Franz, who made the disclosure in Katsina State during a courtesy call to the state governor, Aminu Bello Masari, said the Embassy would not interfere with the electoral processes of the country but would ensure a rancour-free polls.

He said: “Our mission in the country is to ensure hitch-free, credible and transparent elections that would not toy with Nigeria’s electoral acts.

“Therefore, we are looking forward to a peaceful electoral process. We will make sure that the elections are conducted in Nigeria in accordance with the country’s electoral laws.”

While reaffirming the Embassy’s quest for a credible elections in Nigeria, the political officer said the United States has no candidate in next year’s elections, saying “We don’t have candidate, our candidate is the process”.

Speaking earlier, Governor Masari called on the US government to rekindle its support for Nigerian government in the areas of education, economic and health in order to compliment federal government’s effort of assuaging the plight of the citizenry.

Masari, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Muntari Lawal, said Katsina has some students studying in the United States, admonishing the Embassy to assist the state government to actualise its dream of ensuring that the citizens enjoy free education.

The governor further disclosed that his administration would not interfere with the activities of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assuring that US will enjoy peaceful deliberations with stakeholders while discharging it assignment in the state.