Secretary-General Calls on Nigerian Leaders to Help Make Upcoming Elections as Peaceful as Those in March

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

The Secretary-General wishes to congratulate once again the people and Government of Nigeria for the peaceful manner in which the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections were conducted on 28 and 29 March.  The statesmanship demonstrated by the political leadership has marked a significant milestone in the country’s democratic process.

He hopes the same conditions will prevail in the conduct of the gubernatorial and State House Assembly elections on 11 April.  He calls on all political leaders throughout Nigeria to continue to uphold their commitments under the Abuja Accords and to refrain from and immediately condemn any inflammatory statements that amount to an incitement to violence.