Brussels, 19/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU, which is observing the presidential elections in Nigeria, has welcomed the relative calm which generally accompanied the ballot of 16 April, but has spoken out against attempts to destabilise the process. The day before, whilst the results in so far indicated that the winner would be the outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan, from the first round, an attack left eight people dead.
In a declaration published on Monday 18 April, Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU, welcomed “the spirit of calm and restraint that characterised the conduct of the April 16 presidential election in Nigeria, which appears to be the most credible election since Nigeria's return to democracy in 1999”. She “congratulates the Nigerian people for their determination in exercising their right to vote for the democratic future of their country” and said the election was “an important step forward towards consolidating democracy in Nigeria which should lead to better governance in the interest of the people of Nigeria and the broader region”. The high representative added: “However, the EU condemns the attempts made to destabilise the process, and in particular the bomb attacks before and during the election. Any legitimate challenges to the declared election results should be addressed in a timely, transparent and peaceful manner. I urge all stakeholders to exercise restraint in the aftermath of the presidential election and to respect the will of the voters. I also urge them to continue working together to ensure credible and peaceful Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections”. The keynote declaration of the electoral observation mission of the EU, which was led by MEP Alojz Peterle (EPP, Slovenia), was published on Monday 18 April. (A.N./transl.fl)