BREAKING: We have no preferred presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2019 election, says US

The United States of America has said it does not have any preferred candidate in the February 16, 2019 election.a

The country’s position was stated by its Consul General to Nigeria, Ambassador John Bray, on Thursday when he paid a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson.Bray said the United States was only interested in free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.

A statement by the Special Adviser to Dickson on Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, said the Consul General restated the commitment of the US to violence-free electoral process, insisting the country was not supporting any candidate in the February 16 presidential election.

He said delegation was on a tour to the southern states in the country to interface with civil society organisations, traditional rulers and other political stakeholders on the need for peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections.

He said: “The US does not have a candidate in this election. We are looking for a free, fair, credible and peaceful process, a process that allows the choice of the Nigerian citizens to come through.

“So, we are going to spend some time with the governor and chat about different things we might be able to do to better the situation and anything we can do to help before leaving here for Port Harcourt tomorrow.”

Dickson commended the efforts of the International community to peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the country.