Secretary-General Congratulates Nigerians on ‘Orderly’ Elections, Calls for Continued Calm

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General congratulates the people and Government of Nigeria on the largely peaceful and orderly conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections on 28 March.  He condemns the attacks reportedly carried out by Boko Haram and others who have attempted to disrupt today’s polling, and is encouraged by the determination and resilience shown by the Nigerian people in pressing forward and exercising their civic duties in the face of unjustifiable violence.

The Secretary-General encourages all Nigerians to continue to maintain a peaceful atmosphere and to exercise patience throughout the ongoing voting process and the announcement of the final results.  He calls on all actors to channel any complaints that might arise through the established dispute resolution mechanisms.

The Secretary-General believes that the successful conclusion of the electoral process will mark an important step forward in further consolidating democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.