The United States has said it would closely monitor Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, warning that Washington’s security and financial support to Abuja would be tied to issues of religious freedom and the conduct of the polls.
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US Congressman Riley Moore, a Republican representing West Virginia, disclosed this in an interview with NoireTV on Sunday.
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Responding to questions on Nigeria’s next elections, Moore said the conduct of the polls was now a priority for Washington.
“What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to,” he stated.
The lawmaker revealed that the US House of Representatives was considering an appropriations bill containing strong language on Nigeria.
“We’re working on Chris Smith’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor. But I’d say, more importantly, is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor,” Moore said.
According to him, the bill contains provisions on the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the Nigerian government, alongside steps the country must take to address these concerns.
“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that. And so there’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward,” he added.
The congressman said he remained in direct engagement with the Trump administration on Nigeria and would raise the issues again at a scheduled dinner with the President.
“I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight. I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” Moore said.
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