United Kingdom International Development Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, has assured that the country will continue to work with Nigeria through the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that the 2019 general elections are successful.

The minister made the remarks during a meeting with the Chairman of INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu in Abuja at the weekend.

But the minister urged the electoral umpire to remain firm and dispassionate in the discharge of its crucial assignment given the importance of Nigeria to Africa and the international community.

Mordaunt said, “Nigeria is Africa’s biggest, and one of its most vibrant democracies. It has made huge progress in recent years ensuring credible, free, fair and peaceful elections. It is vital to Nigeria, her people and to the confidence of the international community that this continues as the country heads towards elections in 2019.

•Excerpted from Vanguard report