The United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken has affirmed that the Nigerian 2023 election matters to the rest of the world just as it matters to Nigerians.
Blinken made this known in a video message shared on Wednesday by the U.S Embassy & Consulate in Nigeria, where he said the people of Nigeria have a chance to make their voices heard and to choose their future.
According to the Consulate, the short clip which had Blinken and other senior administration officials speak on the elections, was shared in the hope that Nigerians understand that the United States stands with them as they head to the polls.
Blinken, who stressed that America strongly supports free, fair and peaceful elections as enshrined in the constitution, which is one that reflects the will of the people, however, noted that the U.S does not support any individual candidate for office.
“Your vote matters, this election matters, not only to Nigerians, but to the rest of the world,” the U.S Secretary of State stressed.
He added that “the Nigerian people have a friend and partner in the United States of America”.
The U.S Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who was one of the officials in the video said, free and fair elections in Nigeria will “help create a freer and fairer world for everyone”.
Ms Thomas-Greenfield further stated that America has invested in Nigeria’s success, adding that the shared democratic futures of both countries depend on the triumphs of the Nigerian people.
Similarly, Samantha Powers, a USAID Administrator who also was in the video, urged Nigerians to go to INECNigeria.org to prepare themselves on how to vote.
Speaking further, Ms Powers asserted that Nigerians must be prepared to vote because each citizen’s voice matters.