Van Hollen, Booker, Kaine Statement on Saturday’s General Election in Nigeria

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement ahead of Saturday’s general election in Nigeria:

“Tomorrow, the people of Nigeria have the opportunity to make their voices heard and declare their aspirations for the future.

“Free, fair, and peaceful elections that reflect the will of the people are the bedrock of any democracy. As the most populous country and the nation with the largest economy in Africa, Nigeria’s transition away from military rule and its 24 years of uninterrupted democracy are a beacon of hope for the world at a time when democracies are under threat globally.

“We support the Nigerian people as they exercise one of their most fundamental rights—the right to vote. And we encourage Nigeria’s work to ensure all of its people are able to exercise this right, in an effort to strengthen their democracy. When the polls close, we are hopeful that all political parties will respect the election results and support a peaceful transition of power.”