Archbishop of Canterbury wades into Nigeria elections asking Buhari and Atiku to accept the result

ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury Rt Reverend Justin Welby has waded into the tense political situation in Nigeria asking the presidential candidates to accept the outcome of Saturday's polls once the results are declared by the Independent national Electoral Commission (Inec).

Nigeria had been due to go to the polls last Saturday but at the last minute, Inec cancelled the elections and postponed them for a week. Now due to hold on Saturday February 23, the elections are generating a lot of tension as both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused each other of dirty trick.

Both parties are accusing each other of planning to rig the elections, blaming the postponement on each other. Reverend Welby, a good friend of President Buhari, has appealed for calm and prayed that Nigeria will experience a free and fair election despite the postponement.

Reverent Welby said: “Today I join with Nigerians to pray for peaceful, free, credible, transparent and fair elections on the new dates. May participants be able to accept the result and may their great and gifted nation find peace, prosperity, security and hope for all citizens.”

Saturday's elections will involve presidential and national Assembly polls and two weeks later, there will be governorship and state house of assembly elections on March 9. In the presidential race, incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC is facing a stiff challenge from former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.