US-based Nigerians Fault US Govt Report On 2007 Elections

15.03.2008

Nigerians based in the United States of America on Thursday faulted the report of the United States government that the 2007 elections abridged the rights of Nigerians to choose their leaders freely.

The Nigerians, under the aegis of the Organisation of Nigerian Lawyers in Diaspora (ONLID), said that such a position had become untenable with the declaration by the Presidential Election Tribunal that the election of President Umaru Yar’Adua complied with the laws of Nigeria.

In a statement from Washington DC, United States of America, signed by its Convener/Executive Director, Aloy Ejimakor, ONLID said that the era of casting aspersions on Nigeria and anything done by the country should be over now.

The body said that such criticisms were only meant to ridicule the country and not because there were substances in the allegations.

ONLID, which urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari to drop their petitions against Yar’Adua, said that the position of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal should be enough to stop the unwarranted aspersions being cast on Nigeria and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Maurice Iwu, over the 2007 general election.