Election: Don’t Destabilise Congo With Negative Forecast, Nigerian Lawmakers Warn Observers

Some members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, led by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu, and Hon. Aliyu Mustapha, have predicted a landslide victory for incumbent President of Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, in the general election slated for Wednesday, December 20, 2023, warning election observers against destabilising the country’s fragile peace with negative forecast.

Ugochinyere, who’s the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), at a world press conference on Tuesday night, expressed optimism that Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi was expected to win a second term in the election.

He noted that President Tshisekedi since 2019, has been able to unite the Democratic Republic of Congo and restored political stability and grew the economy.

Warning election monitoring groups not to destabilise Congo’s fragile peace with negative forecast, the Nigerian lawmaker urged leading opposition candidates to step down and encourage their supporters to join the over 44 million voters to vote unanimously for Tshisekedi.

This, he said, will help consolidate the industrialisation drive in the country’s mining sector, free education, healthcare, ongoing full restoration of security and national territorial integrity.

Ugochinyere said, “As the Republic of Congo goes to the poll, Nigeria is watching closely. That’s why it’s important we add our voices as members of Nigerian parliament. Congo has had a trying moment and President Felix came at a time he had to battle with a coalition government that the opposition was trying to sabotage, he battled with Ebola crisis and Covid-19 pandemic, insecurity etc. However, he was able to unite the democratic republic of Congo and restored political stability and grew the economy.

“I urge the people of Democratic Republic of Congo to move past beyond divisive issues to a united Congo, that will be the mineral foundation of new energy world that we are talking about, that’s why we are calling on other candidates to consider the overall stability of Congo.

“To consider what Congo has been through in the last 30 years and urge their supporters to elect President Felix as the president of Federal Republic of Congo. With me here is Hon. Aliyu Mustapha, the acting chairman of House Committee on Sports and my humble self, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources Downstream. I wish Congo a peaceful and fair election, that will see our dear brother, Felix elected as the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”