US, UK Govt release joint statement. Say there are signs of political interference in collation of results

The US and UK government have released a joint statement appraising last Saturday's general elections. According to the statement posted on UK's Foreign affairs website here, both government said the elections have largely been peaceful but that there are disturbing indications of political interference in the collation of results. The statement below...


Our governments welcome the largely peaceful vote on 28 March. The Nigerian people have shown a commendable determination to register their vote and choose their leaders. So far, we have seen no evidence of systemic manipulation of the process. But there are disturbing indications that the collation process - where the votes are finally counted - may be subject to deliberate political interference.

This would contravene the letter and spirit of the Abuja Accord, to which both major parties committed themselves. The Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom would be very concerned by any attempts to undermine the independence of the Electoral Commission (INEC), or its Chairman, Prof Jega; or in any way distort the expressed will of the Nigerian people.