UK is hopeful Buhari will sign the amended Electoral Act – British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing has said that the UK government is hopeful that President Buhari will sign the amended electoral act.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of YIAGA Convergence 3.0, the British envoy said she is in Zimbabwe where she observed elections and has also recognised how powerful the civil society could be.

Laing averred that the world is watching to see if the 2023 election in Nigeria would be secured and conducted “relatively well”, and if the electorate would accept the results and rally round the new leadership.

She said;

“We honestly really believe for Nigeria, for Africa, for the World that the outcome of this election and the conduct of this election is massively important.

“It has been a little bit of a rocky road for Nigerian democracy since 1999 but the country has stuck with it.

“Speaking for my government and the new US administration, we are very conscious…we need to build a coalition of democracies.”

Laing further added that they are hopeful the Independent National Electoral Commission would deliver “a good election and the Electoral Act, hopefully, will be passed soon by the President for the electronic transmission of votes.”

She however reiterated that the electorate need to register to participate in the election.