Notable Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has expressed her dissatisfaction with the United States and the United Kingdom for congratulating the recently elected Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite reports of widespread violence, ballot box snatching, voter intimidation, and other electoral malpractices that occurred during the February 25 poll. Adichie wrote an open letter to US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, citing these issues and stating that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to fulfill its promise to upload election results from polling units in real-time via its result viewing portal. In an article published in The Atlantic on Thursday, Adichie emphasized that endorsing the results of an undemocratic process is unacceptable, and that the congratulatory statement from the US State Department itself acknowledged that Nigerians were frustrated with the flawed process. She urged Biden and Rishi not to endorse the results and to take action towards the current state of Nigeria.
Adichie pointed out that the process was imperiled not by technical shortcomings, but by deliberate manipulation. She also questioned why the US, which prioritizes the rule of law, would endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process. In her letter, she said, "A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member. Why would the United States, which prioritizes the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process?"
Adichie's letter raises important questions about the role of the US and the UK in promoting democracy around the world. She questions whether the US and the UK prioritize democracy or stability, and suggests that supporting undemocratic processes ultimately undermines efforts to promote democracy in Africa. As Adichie writes, "The battle for influence in Africa will not be won by supporting the same undemocratic processes for which China is criticized."
