Lagos: Former United States President Bill Clinton has cancelled a working trip to Nigeria ahead of Saturday’s general elections fearing the visit will be politicised.
Clinton’s trip to Lagos was facilitated by the Kofi Annan Foundation and the National Peace Committee (NPC).
“Over the course of the last several days, and after various conversations with the different stakeholders, it’s become apparent that President Clinton’s visit to Nigeria has the potential to be politicized in a way that is not in line with the goals of the Committee. Therefore, he will not be traveling to Abuja,” Clinton’s spokesman, Angel Ureña said in a statement.
President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military general, seeks re-election in the polls where he faces 60 contenders.
The country’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday said two of its office buildings housing voting materials were burned down.“This is a crucial time in Nigeria, and President Clinton is hopeful that the election’s outcome reflects the will of the Nigerian people,” Clinton’s spokesman said.
