Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the recent elections in Nigeria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10670/19]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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On 27 February last, the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had been re-elected for a second four year term following Presidential elections on 23 February.

The ballot had originally been scheduled for 16 February and was postponed at short notice for one week. The Independent National Electoral Commission gave a number of reasons for the delay, including sabotage and bad weather.

The election period saw election-related violence, with an estimated 39 people reported to have lost their lives.

Officials from the Embassy of Ireland in Abuja participated in the European Union Election Observation Mission headed by Maria Arena, MEP. This Observation Mission issued a preliminary statement on Monday 25 February which acknowledged serious operational shortcomings.

Ireland has a long and rich relationship with Nigeria. I look forward to deepening our relationship over the coming years and to continued Irish support for Nigeria and its civil society in strengthening its democracy.